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. 





























































































































BOOKS BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID 


IFUmroO JEDition 


ILLUSTRATED 

Boy Hunters ; or, Adventures in Search of a White 
Buffalo. 

Bush Boys. Adventures of a Family in South 
Africa. 

Young Voyageurs. The Boy Hunters in the North. 

“Now-a-days, in place of lecturers, the world of little folks 
has its race of story-tellers who are ‘ boys with the boys ’ and 
are none the less efficient for being cheerful. Among these the 
Captain is at the head of the company, and right worthily does he 
perform his office.” — London Athen&um. 

G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 


NEW YORK & LONDON 




































< y* 









« 
























Frontispiece. 


SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT, 


IHlmroC* E&ition 


THE BUSH BOYS 


OR THE HISTORY AND ADVENTURES OF A CAPE 
FARMER IN THE WILD KAROOS OF 
SOUTHERN AFRICA 


BY ^ 

CAPTAIN MAYNE REID 

AUTHOR OF “THE BOY HUNTERS,” “ THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 


G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 


NEW YORK 


LONDON 


27 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET 24 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND 


&Ije ^nitkeibochet |Hesa 
1896 



Copyright, 1896 

BY 

G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London 


Ube Tknicfeerbocfeer press, Iftew jtjorft 


TO 

THREE VERY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS 

FRANZ, LOUIS, AND VILMA 

THE CHILDREN OF A STILL OLDER FRIEND 
THE FRIEND OF FREEDOM, OF VIRTUE, AND OF TRUTH 

LOUIS KOSSUTH 

Gbis Volume is H>eDicateb 

BY THEIR SINCERE WELL-WISHER 

MAYNE REID 











PUBLISHERS’ NOTE. 


M AYNE REID was born in Ireland in 1818. 

He early developed a great interest in travel 
and adventure, and when twenty years of age he 
crossed the ocean to America. Shortly after his ar- 
rival, an opportunity offered to join an expedition 
bound for the Red River country and Reid quickly 
availed himself of this and thus gained his first expe- 
rience of the western wilds in which, later on, he spent 
so much of his time. 

In 1845, at the breaking out of the Mexican War, he 
enlisted as a private in the United States army, and for 
distinguished service he received a commission as Cap- 
tain at Vera Cruz. His new rank doubtless increased 
his zeal for active and dangerous duty, for we next hear 
of him as leading a forlorn hope on the battlefield of 
Chapultepec. 

It was not until the close of this war that Reid began 
his career as a writer of fiction, and in 1849, The Rifle 
Rangers , his first book, was published, followed shortly 
after by The Scalp Hunters , and other tales. From 


publishers’ 1Rote 


1849 to 1873, the date of his death, there were issued 
no less than fifty-nine novels from his pen, making 
nearly two volumes per year. 

Many of these stories failed to receive any special 
public appreciation, and the majority of them, although 
at the time of their publication meeting with some sale 
and popularity, have long since been forgotten. 

And it must be confessed that no special regret need 
be felt at the short life of most of these tales, for their 
character was not such as to entitle them to a lengthy 
existence. Wildly adventurous and with the most 
sanguinary plots of border warfare, their many absurd- 
ities were only made the more prominent by the extra- 
ordinary love stories which ran through their pages. 

It is indeed somewhat surprising that the same mind 
which produced such trash as The Fatal Cord , The 
Rifle Rangers , The Golden Chief \ The Finger of Fate , 
and The Queen of the Takes, could also bring forth 
such an admirable series of boys’ books as The Boy 
Hunters , The Young Voyagers , The Bush Boys, and 
The Plant Hunters, all of which cannot fail to prove 
of fascinating interest to boys of healthy tastes. 

These stories are but little known to the young of 
the present generation, and in the belief that in these 
times of endless tales of adventure the better books of 
Mayne Reid should find an honoured place, the publish- 
ers of the present volume have ventured to present this 
Nimrod Edition of the boys’ books of Mayne Reid. 


VI 


publishers’ IRote 


The normal boy craves reading matter with vigorous 
action and adventure, and no evil results from supply- 
ing, in moderation, this demand with stories of wild 
life provided the tone of these tales is honest and 
manly. What Reid has accomplished in the volumes 
mentioned above is to furnish his readers with adven- 
tures which are always such as to assure a boy’s deep 
interest while the action of the stories is invariably 
healthy and vigorous. While the intention of these 
volumes is primarily to furnish amusement for a lad 
they do much more than this, for they inculcate in the 
mind of the boy who reads them carefully a manliness 
of thought, an honesty of purpose, and, above all, the 
habits of close observation and self-reliance which are 
of so great importance in the formation of the char- 
acter of the American boy. 

It is because of these qualities which are felt to exist 
in Captain Mayne Reid’s stories — qualities which un- 
fortunately are often so lamentably absent in the host 
of trash that is at present provided for boys’ reading, 
that it has been thought well to emphasise the value 
of these tales by presenting the Nimrod Edition of his 
works. 





































CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. THE BOORS I 

II. THE “KRAAL” 9 

III. THE “ SPRINGHAAN ’ * 16 

IV. A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS ... 24 

V. THE LOCUST-FLIGHT .... 34 

VI. “ INSPANN AND TREK ! ” 41 

vii. “water! water!” .... 48 

VIII. THE FATE OF THE HERD ... 57 

IX. A LION “COUCHANT” ... 65 

X. A LION IN THE TRAP 73 

XI. THE DEATH OF THE LION . . 8 1 

XII. A TALK ABOUT LIONS ... 87 

XIII. THE TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED . . 93 

XIV. THE “TREK-BOKEN” . . .IOI 

XV. SPOORING FOR A SPRING . . .112 

xvi. the terrible “tsetse” . . 1 19 

XVII. THE LONG-HORNED RHINOCEROS . 1 26 

xviii. a heavy combat .... 136 

XIX. THE DEATH OF THE ELEPHANT . 145 

XX. TURNED HUNTERS . . . -154 

xxi. “jerking” an elephant . . 160 

XXII. THE HIDEOUS HYENA .... 167 

XXIII. STALKING THE OUREBI . . -175 

XXIV. LITTLE JAN’S ADVENTURE . . 1 86 

ix 


Contents 


CHAPTER -PAGE 

XXV. A CHAPTER UPON HYENAS . . -193 

XXVI. A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS . 202 

XXVII. THE BATTUE OF THE WIUD PEACOCKS, 209 
XXVIII. UPON THE “SPOOR” . . . . 2l8 

XXIX. A ROGUE EUEPHANT .... 227 

XXX. THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE 

WIUDEBEESTS 238 

XXXI. THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA . . 246 

XXXII. HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST . 252 

xxxiii. besieged by the bull . . . 260 

XXXIV. A HELPLESS BEAST . . . . 266 

xxxv. the elephant’s sleeping-room . 274 

XXXVI. MAKING THE ELEPHANT’S BED . . 280 

XXXVII. THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA . . 286 

XXXVIII. PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE 

QUAGGAS 295 

XXXIX. THE PIT-TRAP 303 

XL. DRIVING IN THE ELAND . . . 311 

XLI. A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK . 320 

xlii. THE GUN-TRAP 331 

xLiii. the weaver-birds .... 339 
XLIV. THE SPITTING-SNAKE .... 346 

XLV. THE SERPENT-EATER . . . -352 

XL VI. TOTTY AND THE CHACMAS . . . 362 

XLVII. THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTE- 

BEEST 371 

XLVIII. CONCLUSION 383 

x 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Swartboy IN A Predicament . . Frontispiece 

“Da Springhaans are Coming” ... 14 

The Lion in a Fix 84 

Each Horse Seemed Encompassed with a 

Swarm op Bees 124 

A Deadey Encounter 144 

Hendrik Decoying the Ourebis . . .182 

Hans Besieged by a Wiedebeest . . . 258 

Hendrik Beinding the Quagga . . . 328 


XI 








THE BUSH-BOYS 


CHAPTER I. 

THE BOORS. 

H endrik von beoom was a boor. 

My young English reader, do not suppose 
that I mean any disrespect to Mynheer Von Bloom, 
by calling him a “boor.” In our good Cape colony 
a ‘ ‘ boor ” is a farmer. It is no reproach to be called a 
farmer. Von Bloom was one — a Dutch farmer of the 
Cape — a boor. 

The boors of the Cape colony have figured very con- 
siderably in modern history. Although naturally a peo- 
ple inclined to peace, they have been forced into various 
wars, both with native Africans and Europeans ; and 
in these wars they have acquitted themselves admir- 
ably, and given proofs that a pacific people when need 
be can fight just as well as those who are continually 
exulting in the ruffian glory of the soldier. 

But the boors have been accused of cruelty in their 
wars — especially those carried on against the native 

i 


Ube iBusb^JBogs 


races. In an abstract point of view the accusation 
might appear just. But when we come to consider 
the provocation, received at the hands of these savage 
enemies, we learn to look more leniently upon the con- 
duct of the Cape Dutch. It is true they reduced the 
yellow Hottentots to a state of slavery ; but at the 
same time, we, the English, were transporting ship- 
loads of black Guineamen across the Atlantic, while 
the Spaniards and Portuguese were binding the Red 
men of America in fetters as tight and hard. 

Another point to be considered is the character of 
the natives with whom the Dutch boors had to deal. 
The keenest cruelty inflicted upon them by the colo- 
nists was mercy, compared with the treatment which 
these savages had to bear at the hands of their own 
despots. 

This does not justify the Dutch for having reduced 
the Hottentots to a state of slavery ; but, all circum- 
stances considered, there is no one of the maritime 
nations who can gracefully accuse them of cruelty. 
In their dealings with the aborigines of the Cape, they 
have had to do with savages of a most wicked and de- 
graded stamp ; and the history of colonisation, under 
such circumstances, could not be otherwise than full 
of unpleasant episodes. 

Young reader, I could easily defend the conduct of 
the boors of Cape colony, but I have not space here. 
I can only give you my opinion ; and that is, they are 


2 


XTbe Boors 


a brave, strong, healthy, moral, peace-loving, indus- 
trious race — lovers of truth, and friends to republican 
freedom — in short, a noble race of men. 

Is it likely, then, when I called Hendrik Von Bloom 
a boor, that I meant him any disrespect ? Quite the 
contrary. 

But Mynheer Hendrik had not always been a boor. 
He could boast of a somewhat higher condition — that 
is, he could boast of a better education than the mere 
Cape farmer usually possesses, as well as some experi- 
ence in wielding the sword. He was not a native of 
the colony, but of the mother country ; and he had 
found his way to the Cape*not as a poor adventurer 
seeking his fortune, but as an officer in a Dutch regi- 
ment then stationed there. 

His soldier-service in the colony was not of long 
duration. A certain cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired 
Gertrude — the daughter of a rich boor — had taken a 
liking to the young lieutenant ; and he in his turn 
became vastly fond of her. The consequence was, 
that they got married. Gertrude’s father dying 
shortfy after, the large farm, with its full stock of 
horses, and Hottentots, broad- tailed sheep, and long- 
horned oxen, became hers. This was an inducement 
for her soldier-husband to lay down the sword and 
turn “vee-boor,” or stock farmer, which he conse- 
quently did. 

These incidents occurred many years previous to 
3 


Uhc JBusbsOBoss 


the English becoming masters of the Cape colony. 
When that event came to pass, Hendrik Von Bloom 
was already a man of influence in the colony and 
“ field-cornet ’ ’ of his district, which lay in the beau- 
tiful county of Graaf Reinet. He was then a widower, 
the father of a small family. The wife whom he had 
fondly loved, — the cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Ger- 
trude — no longer lived. 

History will tell you how the Dutch colonists, dis- 
contented with English rule, rebelled against it. The 
ex-lieutenant and field-cornet was one of the most 
prominent among these rebels. History will also tell 
you how the rebellion was*put down ; and how several 
of those compromised were brought to execution. 
Von Bloom escaped by flight ; but his fine property 
in the Graaf Reinet was confiscated and given to 
another. 

Man}' years after we find him living in a remote dis- 
trict beyond the great Orange river, leading the life 
of a “ trek-boor,” — that is, a nomade farmer, who has 
no fixed or permanent abode, but moves with his 
flocks from place to place, wherever good pastures 
and water may tempt him. 

From about this time dates my knowledge of the 
field-cornet and his family. Of his history previous 
to this I have stated all I know, but for a period of 
many years after I am more minutely acquainted 
with it. Most of its details I received from the lips 
4 


tT be Boors 


of his own son. I was greatly interested, and indeed 
instructed, by them. They were my first lessons in 
African zoology. 

Believing, boy reader, that they might also instruct 
and interest you, I here lay them before you. You 
are not to regard them as merely fanciful. The de- 
scriptions of the wild creatures that play their parts 
in this little history, as well as the acts, habits, and 
instincts assigned to them, you may regard as true 
to Nature. Young Von Bloom was a student of Na- 
ture, and you may depend upon the fidelity of his 
descriptions. 

Disgusted with politics, the field-cornet now dwelt 
on the remote frontier — in fact, beyond the frontier, 
for the nearest settlement was an hundred miles off. 
His “ kraal ” was in a district bordering the Kalihari 
desert — the Saara of Southern Africa. The region 
around, for hundreds of miles, was uninhabited, for 
the thinly-scattered, half-human bushmen who dwelt 
within its limits hardly deserved the name of inhabi- 
tants any more than the wild beasts that howled around 
them. 

I have said that Von Bloom now followed the occu- 
pation of a “ trek-boor/ ’ Farming in the Cape colony 
consists principally in the rearing of horses, cattle, 
sheep, and goats ; and these animals form the wealth 
of the boor. But the stock of our field-cornet was now 
a very small one. The proscription had swept away 

5 


TLhc JSusb^o^s 


all his wealth, and he had not been fortunate in his first 
essays as a nomade grazier. The emancipation law, 
passed by the British Government, extended not only 
to the Negroes of the West India Islands, but also to 
the Hottentots of the Cape ; and the result of it was 
that the servants of Mynheer Von Bloom had deserted 
him. His cattle, no longer properly cared for, had 
strayed off. Some of them fell a prey to wild beasts — 
some died of the murrain. His horses, too, were 
decimated by that mysterious disease of Southern 
Africa, ‘ * horse-sickness * ’ ; while his sheep and goats 
were continually being attacked and diminished in 
numbers by the earth- wolf, the wild hound, and the 
hyena. A series of losses had he suffered until his 
horses, oxen, sheep, and goats, scarce counted alto- 
gether an hundred head. A very small stock for a 
vee-boor, or South African grazier. 

Withal our field-cornet was not unhappy. He looked 
around upon his three brave sons — Hans, Hendrik, 
and Jan. He looked upon his cherry-cheeked, flaxen- 
haired daughter, Gertrude, the very type and image of 
what her mother had been. From these he drew the 
hope of a happier future. ■*% 

His two eldest boys were already helps to him in his 
daily occupations ; the youngest would soon be so like- 
wise. In Gertrude, — or “ Triiey,”as she was endear- 
ingly styled, — he would soon have a capital house- 
keeper. He was not unhappy therefore ; and if an 
6 


XTbe Boors 


occasional sigh escaped him, it was when the face of 
little Triiey recalled the memory of that Gertrude who 
was now in heaven. 

But Hendrik Von Bloom was not the man to despair. 
Disappointments had not succeeded in causing his 
spirits to droop. He only applied himself more ardently 
to the task of once more building up his fortune. 

For himself he had no ambition to be rich. He 
would have been contented with the simple life he was 
leading, and would have cared but little to increase his 
wealth. But other considerations weighed upon his 
mind — the future of his little family. He could not 
suffer his children to grow up in the midst of the wild 
plains without education. 

No ; they must one day return to the abodes of men, 
to act their part in the drama of social and civilised life. 
This was his design. 

But how was this design to be accomplished ? Though 
his so-called act of treason had been pardoned, and he 
was now free to return within the limits of the colony, 
he was ill-prepared for such a purpose. His poor 
wasted stock would not suffice to set him up within the 
settlements. It would scarce keep him a month. To 
return would be to return a beggar ! 

Reflections of this kind sometimes gave him anxiety. 
But they also added energy to his disposition, and 
rendered him more eager to overcome the obstacles 
before him. 


7 


XTbe 


During the present year he had been very industrious. 
In order that his cattle should be provided for in the 
season of winter he had planted a large quantity of 
maize and buckwheat, and now the crops of both were 
in the most prosperous condition. His garden, too, 
smiled, and promised a profusion of fruits, and melons, 
and kitchen vegetables. In short, the little homestead 
where he had fixed himself for a time, was a miniature 
oasis ; and he rejoiced day after day, as his eyes rested 
upon the ripening aspect around him. Once more he 
began to dream of prosperity — once more to hope that 
his evil fortunes had come to an end. 

Alas ! It was a false hope. A series of trials yet 
awaited him — a series of misfortunes that deprived him 
of almost everything he possessed, and completely 
changed his mode of existence. 

Perhaps these occurrences could hardly be termed 
misfortunes , since in the end they led to a happy result. 

But you may judge for yourself, boy reader, after 
you have heard the ‘ ‘ history and adventures ’ ’ of the 
“ trek-boor ” and his family. 




8 


CHAPTER II. 


the: “kraae.” 



HE ex-field-cornet was seated in front of his 


kraal — for such is the name of a South African 


homestead. From his lips protruded a large pipe, with 
its huge bowl of meerschaum. Every boor is a smoker. 

Notwithstanding the many losses and crosses of his 
past life, there was contentment in his eye. He was 
gratified by the prosperous appearance of his crops. 
The maize was now “in the milk/’ and the ears, 
folded within the papyrus-like husks, looked full and 
large. It was delightful to hear the rustling of the 
long green blades, and see the bright golden tassels 
waving in the breeze. The heart of the farmer was 
glad as his eye glanced over his promising crop of 
“ mealies.” 

But there was another promising crop that still more 
gladdened his heart — his fine children. There they 
are — all around him. 

Hans — the oldest — steady, sober Hans, at work in 
the well-stocked garden ; while the diminutive but 
sprightly imp Jan, the youngest, is looking on, and 


9 


TOe 


occasionally helping his brother. Hendrik — the dash- 
ing Hendrik, with bright face and light curling hair — 
is busy among the horses, in the “ horse-kraal ” ; and 
Triiey — the beautiful, cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired 
Triiey — is engaged with her pet — a fawn of the 
springbok gazelle — whose bright eyes rival her own in 
their expression of innocence and loveliness. 

Yes, the heart of the field-cornet is glad as he glances 
from one to the other of these his children — and with 
reason. They are all fair to look upon, — all give prom- 
ise of goodness. If their father feels an occasional 
pang, it is, as we have already said, when his eye rests 
upon the cherry -cheeked, flaxen-haired Gertrude. 

But time has long since subdued that grief to a gentle 
melancholy. Its pang is short-lived, and the face of 
the field-cornet soon lightens up again as he looks 
around upon his dear children, so full of hope and 
promise. 

Hans and Hendrik are already strong enough to as- 
sist him in his occupations, — in fact, with the exception 
of “ Swartboy,” they are the only help he has. 

Who is Swartboy ? 

Took into the horse-kraal, and you will there s^ee 
Swartboy engaged, along with his young master Hen- 
drik, in saddling a pair of horses. You may notice 
that Swartboy appears to be about thirty years old, and 
he is full that ; but if you were to apply a measuring 
rule to him, you would find him not much over four 

io 


TTbe ‘“Ikraal” 


feet in height ! He is stoutly built however, and would 
measure better in a horizontal direction. You may 
notice that he is of a yellow complexion, although his 
name might lead you to fancy he w^as black — for 
“ Swartboy ” means “ black-boy.” You may observe 
that his nose is flat and sunk below the level of his 
cheeks ; that his cheeks are prominent, his lips very 
thick, his nostrils wide, his face beardless, and his head 
almost hairless — for the small kinky wool-knots thinly 
scattered over his skull can scarcely be designated hair. 
You may notice, moreover, that his head is monstrously 
large, with ears in proportion, and that the eyes are 
set obliquely, and have a Chinese expression. You 
may notice about Swartboy all those characteristics 
that distinguish the “ Hottentots ” of South Africa. 

Yet Swartboy is not a Hottentot — though he is of 
the same race. He is a Bushman. 

How came this wild Bushman into the service of the 
ex-field-cornet Von Bloom ? About that there is a little 
romantic history. Thus : — 

Among the savage tribes of Southern Africa there 
exists a very cruel custom, — that of abandoning their 
aged or infirm, and often their sick or wounded, to die 
in the desert. Children leave their parents behind 
them, and the wounded are often forsaken by their 
comrades with no other provision made for them be- 
yond a day’s food and a cup of water ! 

The Bushman Swartboy had been the victim of this 


Ube ®usb*Bos$ 


custom. He had been upon a hunting excursion with 
some of his own kindred, and had been sadly mangled 
by a lion. His comrades, not expecting him to live, 
left him on the plain to die ; and most certainly would 
he have perished had it not been for our field-cornet. 
The latter, as he was “trekking” over the plains, 
found the wounded Bushman, lifted him into his wagon, 
carried him on to his camp, dressed his wounds, and 
nursed him till he became well. That is how Swartboy 
came to be in the service of the field-cornet. 

Though gratitude is not a characteristic of his race, 
Swartboy was not ungrateful. When all the other 
servants ran away, he remained faithful to his master ; 
and since that time had been a most efficient and use- 
ful hand. In fact, he was now the only one left, with 
the exception of the girl, Totty — who was, of course, 
a Hottentot; and much about the same height, size, 
and colour, as Swartboy himself. 

We have said that Swartboy and the young Hendrik 
were saddling a pair of horses. As soon as they had 
finished that job, they mounted them, and riding out 
of the kraal, took their way straight across the plain. 
They were followed by a couple of strong, rough-look- 
ing dogs. 

Their purpose was to drive home the oxen and the 
other horses that were feeding a good distance off. 
This they were in the habit of doing every evening at 
the same hour, — for in South Africa it is necessary to 


12 


Ube “Ikraal” 


shut up all kinds of live stock at night, to protect them 
from beasts of prey. For this purpose are built several 
enclosures with high walls,— “ kraals,” as they are 
called, — a word of the same signification as the Spanish 
“corral,” and I fancy introduced into Africa by the 
Portuguese — since it is not a native term. 

These kraals are important structures about the 
homestead of a boor, almost as much so as his own 
dwelling-house, which of itself also bears the name 
of “kraal.” 

As young Hendrik and Swartboy rode off for the 
horses and cattle, Hans, leaving his work in the gar- 
den, proceeded to collect the sheep and drive them 
home. These browsed in a different direction ; but, as 
they were near, he went a-foot, taking little Jan along 
with him. 

Triiey having tied her pet to a post, had gone inside 
the house to help Totty in preparing the supper. 
Thus the field-cornet was left to himself and his pipe, 
which he still continued to smoke. 

He sat in perfect silence, though he could scarce re- 
strain from giving expression to the satisfaction he felt 
at seeing his family thus industriously employed. 
Though pleased with all his children, it must be con- 
fessed he had some little partiality for the dashing Hen- 
drik, who bore his own name, and who reminded him 
more of his own youth than any of the others. He 
was proud of Hendrik’s gallant horsemanship, and his 


13 


XTbe Busb=J3ops 


eyes followed him over the plain until the riders were 
nearly a mile off, and already mixing among the 
cattle. 

At this moment an object came under the eyes of 
Von Bloom, that at once arrested his attention. It was 
a curious appearance along the lower part of the sky, 
in the direction in which Hendrik and Swartboy had 
gone, but apparently beyond them. It resembled a 
dun-coloured mist or smoke, as if the plain at a great 
distance was on fire ! 

Could that be so? Had some one fired the karoo 
bushes ? Or was it a cloud of dust ? 

The wind was hardly strong enough to raise such a 
dust, and yet it had that appearance. Was it caused 
by animals ? Might it not be the dust raised by a great 
herd of antelopes, — a migration of the springboks, for 
instance? It extended for miles along the horizon, but 
Von Bloom knew that these creatures often travel in 
flocks of greater extent than miles. Still he could not 
think it was that. 

He continued to gaze at the strange phenomenon, * 
endeavouring to account for it in various ways. It 
seemed to be rising higher against the blue sky — now 
resembling dust, now like the smoke of a widely- 
spread conflagration, and now like a reddish cloud. 

It was in the west, and already the setting sun was 
obscured by it. It had passed over the sun’s disc like 
a screen, and his light no longer fell upon the plain. 

14 


4 


— 



i l 


99 


DA SPRINGHAANS ARE COMING 



Uhc “ftraal” 


Was it the forerunner of some terrible storm ? — of an 
earthquake ? 

Such a thought crossed the mind of the field-cornet. 
It was not like an ordinary cloud, — it was not like a 
cloud of dust, — it was not like smoke. It was like 
nothing he had ever witnessed before. No wonder 
that he became anxious and apprehensive. 

All at once the dark-red mass seemed to envelop the 
cattle upon the plain, and these could be seen running 
to and fro as if affrighted. Then the two riders disap- 
peared under its dun shadow ! 

Von Bloom rose to his feet, now seriously alarmed. 
What could it mean ? 

The exclamation to which he gave utterance brought 
little Triiey and Totty from the house ; and Hans with 
Jan had now got back with the sheep and goats. All 
saw the singular phenomenon, but none of them could 
tell what it was. All were in a state of alarm. 

As they stood gazing, with hearts full of fear, the 
two riders appeared coming out of the cloud, and then 
they were seen to gallop forward over the plain in the 
direction of the house. They came on at full speed, 
but long before they had got near, the voice of Swart- 
boy could be heard crying out : 

“Baas Von Bloom ! da springhaans are cornin' ! — 
da springhaan ! — da springhaan ! " 


15 


CHAPTER HI. 


THE “SPRINGHAAN.” 

H! the springhaan ! ” cried Von Bloom, rec- 



ognising the Dutch name for the far-famed 


migratory locust. 

The mystery was explained. The singular cloud 
that was spreading itself over the plain was neither 
more nor less than a flight of locusts ! 

It was a sight that none of them, except Swartboy, 
had ever witnessed before. His master had often seen 
locusts in small quantities, and of several species, — for 
there are many kinds of these singular insects in South 
Africa. But that which now appeared was a true, mi- 
gratory locust ( Gryllus devastatorius) ; and upon one 
of its great migrations — an event of rarer occurrence 
than travellers would have you believe. 

Swartboy knew them well ; and, although he an- 
nounced their approach in a state of great excitement, 
it was not the excitement of terror. 

Quite the contrary. His great thick lips were com- 
pressed athwart his face in a grotesque expression of 
joy. The instincts of his wild race were busy within 


ZTbe “ Spdngbaan ” 


him. To them a flight of locusts is not an object of 
dread, but a source of rejoicing — their coming as wel- 
come as a take of shrimps to a Teigh fisherman, or 
harvest to the husbandman. 

The dogs, too, barked and howled with joy, and 
frisked about as if they were going out upon a hunt. 
On perceiving the cloud, their instinct enabled them 
easily to recognise the locusts. They regarded them 
with feelings similar to those that stirred Swartboy — 
for both dogs and Bushmen eat the insects with 
avidity ! 

At the announcement that it was only locusts, all 
at once recovered from their alarm. Tittle Triiey and 
Jan laughed, clapped their hands, and waited with 
curiosity until they should come nearer. All had 
heard enough of locusts to know that they were only 
grasshoppers that neither bit nor stung any one, and 
therefore no one was afraid of them. 

Even Von Bloom himself was at first very little con- 
cerned about them. After his feelings of apprehen- 
sion, the announcement that it was a flight of locusts 
was a relief, and for a while he did not dwell upon the 
nature of such a phenomenon, but only regarded it 
with feelings of curiosity. 

Of a sudden his thoughts took a new direction. His 
eye rested upon his fields of maize and buckwheat, 
upon his garden of melons, and fruits, and vegetables : 
a new alarm seized upon him ; the memory of many 
17 


2 


ZTbe JSusb^Bo^s 


stories which he had heard in relation to these destruc- 
tive creatures rushed into his mind, and as the whole 
truth developed itself, he turned pale, and uttered new 
exclamations of alarm. 

The children changed countenance as well. They 
saw that their father suffered ; though they knew not 
why. They gathered inquiringly around him. 

“ Alas ! alas ! Lost ! lost ! ” exclaimed he ; “ yes, 
all our crop — our labour of the year — gone, gone ! O 
my dear children ! ’ * 

“How lost, father? — how gone?” exclaimed sev- 
eral of them in a breath. 

“ See the springhaan ! they will eat up our crop — 
all— all ! ” 

“ ’T is true, indeed,” said Hans, who being a great 
student had often read accounts of the devastations 
committed by the locusts. 

The joyous countenances of all once more wore a 
sad expression, and it was no longer with curiosity 
that they gazed upon the distant cloud, that so suddenly 
had clouded their joys. 

Von Bloom had good cause for dread. Should the 
swarm come on, and settle upon his fields, farewell to 
his prospects of a harvest. They would strip the 
verdure from his whole farm in a twinkling. They 
would leave neither seed, nor leaf, nor stalk, behind 
them. 

All stood watching the flight with painful emotions. 

18 


Uhc u Springbaan ” 


The swarm was still a full half-mile distant. They 
appeared to be coming no nearer, — good ! 

A ray of hope entered the mind of the field-cornet. 
He took off his broad felt hat, and held it up to the 
full stretch of his arm. The wind was blowing from 
the north , and the swarm was directly to the west of the 
kraal. The cloud of locusts had approached from the 
north, as they almost invariably do in the southern 
parts of Africa. 

“Yes,” said Hendrik, who having been in their 
midst could tell what way they were drifting, “ they 
came down upon us from a northerly direction. When 
we headed our horses homewards, we soon galloped 
out from them, and they did not appear to fly after us ; 
I am sure they were passing southwards.” 

Von Bloom entertained hopes that as none appeared 
due north of the kraal, the swarm might pass on with- 
out extending to the borders of his farm. He knew 
that they usually followed the direction of the wind. 
Unless the wind changed they would not swerve from 
their course. 

He continued to observe them anxiously. He saw 
that the selvidge of the cloud came no nearer. His 
hopes rose. His countenance grew brighter. The 
children noticed this and were glad, but said nothing. 
All stood silently watching. 

An odd sight it was. There was not only the misty 
swarm of the insects to gaze upon. The air above 
19 


Qhc 


them was filled with birds — strange birds and of many 
kinds. On slow, silent wing soared the brown “on- 
con,” the largest of Africa’s vultures ; and along 
with him the yellow ‘ ‘ chasse fiente, ’ ’ the vulture of 
Kolbe. There swept the bearded “lamvanger,” on 
broad extended wings. There shrieked the great 
“ Caffre eagle,” and side by side with him the short- 
tailed and singular ‘ ‘ bateleur. ’ ’ There, too, were 
hawks of different sizes and colours, and kites cutting 
through the air, and crows and ravens, and many 
species of insectivora. But far more numerous than all 
the rest could be seen the little spring haan-vogel, a 
speckled bird of nearly the size and form of a swallow. 
Myriads of these darkened the air above — hundreds 
of them continually shooting down among the insects, 
and soaring up again, each with a victim in its beak. 
‘ ‘ Tocust-vultures ’ * are these creatures named, though 
not vultures in kind. They feed exclusively on these 
insects, and are never seen where the locusts are not. 
They follow them through all their migrations, build- 
ing their nests, and rearing their young, in the midst 
of their prey ! 

It was, indeed, a curious sight to look upon, that 
swarm of winged insects, and their numerous and 
varied enemies ; and all stood gazing upon it with feel- 
ings of wonder. Still the living cloud approached no 
nearer, and the hopes of Von Bloom continued to rise. 

The swarm kept extending to the south — in fact, it 


20 


tlbe “ Sprtnobaan ” 


now stretched along the whole western horizon ; and 
all noticed that it was gradually getting lower down — 
that is, its top edge was sinking in the heavens. Were 
the locusts passing off to the west? No. 

“ Da am goin’ to roost for da nacht — now we ’ll get 
’em in bagful,” said Swartboy, with a pleased look ; 
for Swartboy was a regular locust eater, as fond of 
them as either eagle or kite, — aye, as the “ spring- 
haanvogel ’ ’ itself. 

It was as Swartboy had stated. The swarm was 
actually settling down on the plain. 

“ Can’t fly without sun,” continued the Bushman. 
“ Too cold now. Dey go dead till da mornin’.” 

And so it was. The sun had set. The cool breeze 
weakened the wings of the insect travellers, and they 
were compelled to make halt for the night upon the 
trees, bushes, and grass. 

In a few minutes the dark mist that had hid the 
blue rim of the sky, was seen no more ; but the distant 
plain looked as if a fire had swept over it. It was 
thickly covered with the bodies of the insects, that gave 
it a blackened appearance, as far as the eye could reach. 

The attendant birds, perceiving the approach of 
night, screamed for a while, and then scattered away 
through the heavens. Some perched upon the rocks, 
while others went to roost among the low thickets of 
mimosa ; and now for a short interval both earth and 
air were silent. 


21 


TLhc Busb^Bo^s 


Von Bloom now bethought him of his Cattle. Their 
forms were seen afar off in the midst of the locust- 
covered plain. 

“ L,et ’em feed um little while, baas,” suggested 
Swartboy. 

“On what?” inquired his master. “Don’t you 
see the grass is covered ! ’ ’ 

“On de springhaan demself, baas,” replied the 
Bushman; “good for fatten big ox — better dan grass 
ya, better dan mealies .” 

But it was too late to leave the cattle longer out upon 
the plain. The lions would soon be abroad — the sooner 
because of the locusts, for the king of the beasts does 
not disdain to fill his royal stomach with these insects 
— when he can find them. 

Von Bloom saw the necessity of bringing his cattle 
at once to their kraal. 

A third horse was saddled, which the field-cornet 
himself mounted, and rode off, followed by Hendrik 
and Swartboy. 

On approaching the locusts they beheld a singular 
sight. The ground was covered with these reddish- 
brown creatures, in some spots to the depth of several 
inches. What bushes there were were clustered with 
them, — all over the leaves and branches, as if swarms 
of bees had settled upon them. Not a leaf or blade of 
grass that was not covered with their bodies ! 

They moved not, but remained silent, as if torpid or 


22 


TTbe “ Sprinobaan ” 


asleep. The cold of the evening had deprived them of 
the power of flight. 

What was strangest of all to the eyes of Von Bloom 
and Hendrik, was the conduct of their own horses and 
cattle. These were some distance out in the midst of 
the sleeping host ; but instead of being alarmed at their 
odd situation, they were greedily gathering up the in- 
sects in mouthfuls, and crunching them as though 
they had been corn ! 

It was with some difficulty that they could be driven 
off ; but the roar of a lion, that was just then heard 
over the plain, and the repeated application of Swart- 
boy’s jambok , rendered them more tractable, and at 
length they suffered themselves to be driven home, 
and lodged within their kraals. 

Swartboy had provided himself with a bag, which he 
carried back full of locusts. 

It was observed that in collecting the insects into the 
bag, he acted with some caution, handling them very 
gingerly, as if he was afraid of them. It was not them 
he feared, but snakes, which upon such occasions are 
very plenteous, and very much to be dreaded — as the 
Bushman from experience well knew. 


23 


CHAPTER IV. 


A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS. 

I T was a night of anxiety in the kraal of the field- 
cornet. Should the wind veer round to the west, 
to a certainty the locusts would cover his land in the 
morning, and the result would be the total destruction 
of his crops. Perhaps worse than that. Perhaps the 
whole vegetation around — for fifty miles or more — 
might be destroyed ; and then how would his cattle be 
fed ? It would be no easy matter even to save their 
lives. They might perish before he could drive them 
to any other pasturage ! 

Such a thing was by no means uncommon or im- 
probable. In the history of the Cape colony many a 
boor had lost his flocks in this very way. No wonder 
there was anxiety that night in the kraal of the field- 
cornet. 

At intervals Von Bloom went out to ascertain 
whether there was any change in the wind. Up to a 
late hour he could perceive none. A gentle breeze 
still blew from the north — from the great Kalihari 
desert — whence, no doubt, the locusts had come. The 


24 


Ube Busb^Bo^s 


moon was bright, and her light gleamed over the host 
of insects that darkly covered the plain. The roar of the 
lion could be heard mingling with the shrill scream of 
the jackal and the maniac laugh of the hyena. All 
these beasts, and many more, were enjoying a plente- 
ous repast. 

Perceiving no change in the wind, Von Bloom be- 
came less uneasy, and they all conversed freely about 
the locusts. Swartboy took a leading part in this con- 
versation, as he was better acquainted with the subject 
than any of them. It was far from being the first 
flight of locusts Swartboy had seen, and many a bushel 
of them had he eaten. It was natural to suppose, 
therefore, that he knew a good deal about them. 

He knew not whence they came. That was a point 
about which Swartboy had never troubled himself. 
The learned Hans offered an explanation of their 
origin . 

‘ ‘ They come from the desert, ’ ’ said he. “ The eggs 
from which they are produced, are deposited in the 
sands or dust ; where they lie until rain falls, and causes 
the herbage to spring up. Then the locusts are hatched, 
and in their first stage are supported upon this herbage. 
When it becomes exhausted, they are compelled to go 
in search of food. Hence these ‘ migrations,’ as they 
are called.” 

This explanation seemed clear enough. 

“Now I have heard,” said Hendrik, “of farmers 


25 


Uhc ilBusMSops 


kindling fires around their crops to keep off the locusts. 
I can’t see how fires would keep them off — not even if 
a regular fence of fire were made all round a field. 
These creatures have wings, and could easily fly over 
the fires. ’ ’ 

“The fires,” replied Hans, “are kindled, in order 
that the smoke may prevent them from alighting ; but 
the locusts to which these accounts usually refer are 
without wings, called voetg angers (foot-goers). They 
are, in fact, the larv<z of these locusts, before they have 
obtained their wings. These have also their migrations, 
that are often more destructive than those of the perfect 
insects, such as we see here. They proceed over the 
ground by crawling and leaping like grasshoppers ; 
for, indeed, they are grasshoppers — a species of them. 
They keep on in one direction, as if they were guided 
by instinct to follow a particular course. Nothing can 
interrupt them in their onward march unless the sea or 
some broad and rapid river. Small streams they can 
swim across ; and large ones, too, where they run slug- 
gishly ; walls and houses they can climb — even the 
chimneys — going straight over them ; and the moment 
they have reached the other side of any obstacle, they 
continue straight onward in the old direction. 

“ In attempting to cross broad rapid rivers, they are 
drowned in countless myriads, and swept off to the 
sea. When it is only a small migration, the farmers 
sometimes keep them off by means of fires, as j^ou have 
26 


H Ualfe about SLocusts 


heard. On the contrary, when large numbers appear, 
even the fires are of no avail. ’ ’ 

“But how is that, brother?” inquired Hendrik. 
“ I can understand how fires would stop the kind you 
speak of, since you say they are without wings. But 
since they are so, how do they get through the fires ? 
Jump them ? ” 

“ No, not so,” replied Hans. “The fires are built 
too wide and large for that.” 

“ How then, brother? ” asked Hendrik. “ I ’m puz- 
zled.” 

“So am I,” said little Jan. 

‘ ‘ And I, ” added Triiey. 

“Well, then,” continued Hans, “millions of the 
insects crawl into the fires and put them out ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Ho ! ’ ’ cried all in astonishment. ‘ ‘ How ? Are 
they not burned ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Of course, ’ ’ replied Hans. ‘ ‘ They are scorched and 
killed — myriads of them quite burned up. But their 
bodies crowded thickly on the fires choke them out. 
The foremost ranks of the great host thus become vic- 
tims, and the others pass safely across upon the holo- 
caust thus made. So you see, even fires cannot stop the 
course of the locusts when they are in great numbers. 

“In many parts of Africa, where the natives culti- 
vate the soil, as soon as they discover a migration of 
these insects, and perceive that they are heading in the 
direction of their fields and gardens, quite a panic is 


27 


Uhc 


produced among them. They know that they will lose 
their crops to a certainty, and hence dread a visitation 
of locusts as they would an earthquake, or some other 
great calamity.” 

“We can well understand their feelings upon such an 
occasion,” remarked Hendrik, with a significant 
look. 

“The flying locusts,” continued Hans, “seem less 
to follow a particular direction than their larvae. The 
former seem to be guided by the wind. Frequently 
this carries them all into the sea, where they perish in 
vast numbers. On some parts of the coast their dead 
bodies have been found washed back to land in quanti- 
ties incredible. At one place the sea threw them upon 
the beach, until they lay piled up in a ridge four feet in 
height, and fifty miles in length ! It has been asserted 
by several well-known travellers that the effluvium from 
this mass tainted the air to such an extent that it was 
perceived one hundred and fifty miles inland ! ” 

“Heigh!” exclaimed little Jan. “I didn’t think 
anybody had so good a nose.” 

At little Jan’s remark there was a general laugh. 
Von Bloom did not join in their merriment. He was 
in too serious a mood just then. 

“Papa,” inquired little Truey, perceiving that her 
father did not laugh, and thinking to draw him into 
the conversation, — “Papa! were these the kind of 
locusts eaten by John the Baptist when in the des- 
28 


B XTaU: about Xocusts 


ert ? His food, the Bible says, was ‘ locusts and wild 
honey.’ ” 

“ I believe these are the same,” replied the father. 

“I think, papa,” modestly rejoined Hans, “they 
are not exactly the same, but a kindred species. The 
locust of Scripture was the true Gryllus mig? r atorious, 
and different from those of South Africa, though very 
similar in its habits. But,” continued he, “some 
writers dispute that point altogether. The Abyssinians 
say it was beans of the locust-tree, and not insects, 
that were the food of St. John.” 

“ What is your opinion, Hans ? ” inquired Hendrik, 
who had a great belief in his brother’s book-knowledge. 

“ Why, I think,” replied Hans, “ there need be no 
question about it. It is only torturing the meaning of 
a word to suppose that St. John ate the locust fruit, and 
not the insect. I am decidedly of opinion that the 
latter is meant in Scripture ; and what makes me think 
so is, that these two kinds of food, ‘ locusts and wild 
honey, ’ are often coupled together, as forming at the 
present time the subsistence of many tribes who are 
denizens of the desert. Besides, we have good evi- 
dence that both were used as food by desert-dwelling 
people in the days of Scripture. It is, therefore, but 
natural to suppose that St. John, when in the desert, 
was forced to partake of this food ; just as many a trav- 
eller of modern times has eaten of it when crossing the 
deserts that surround us here in South Africa. 


29 


Ube 36 usb=Bo^s 


“I have read a great many books about locusts,” 
continued Hans ; ‘ ‘ and now that the Bible has been 
mentioned, I must say for my part, I know no account 
given of these insects so truthful and beautiful as that 
in the Bible itself. Shall I read it, papa ? ” 

“By all means, my boy,” said the field-cornet, 
rather pleased at the request which his son had made, 
and at the tenor of the conversation. 

kittle Triiey ran into the inner room and brought 
out an immense volume bound in gemsbok skin, with 
a couple of strong brass clasps upon it to keep it closed. 
This was the family Bible ; and here let me observe, 
that a similar book may be found in the house of 
nearly every boor, for these Dutch colonists are a Prot- 
estant and Bible-loving people — so much so, that they 
think nothing of going a hundred miles, four times in 
the year, to attend the nacht-maal , or sacramental sup- 
per ! What do you think of that ? 

Hans opened the volume, and turned at once to the 
book of the prophet Joel. From the readiness with 
which he found the passage, it was evident he was well 
acquainted with the book he held in his hands. 

He read as follows : — 

“A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of 
clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread 
upon the mountains ; a great people and a strong : there 
hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more 
after it, even to the years of many generations. A 
30 


B ITalft about Xocusts 


fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame 
burneth : the land is as the garden of Eden before them 
and behind them a desolate wilderness ; yea, and noth- 
ing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as 
the appearance of horses ; and as horsemen, so shall 
they run. Eike the noise of chariots on the tops of 
mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of 
fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set 
in battle array.” “The earth shall quake before 
them ; the heavens shall tremble ; the sun and the 
moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their 
shining.” “How do the beasts groan ! the herds of 
cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture ; 
yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.” 

Even the rude Swartboy could perceive the poetic 
beauty of this description. 

But Swartboy had much to say about the locusts, as 
well as the inspired Joel. 

Thus spoke Swartboy : — 

“ Bushman no fear da springhaan. Bushman hab 
no garden — no maize — no buckwheat — no nothing for 
da springhaan to eat. Bushman eat locust himself — he 
grow fat on da locust. Ebery thing eat dem dar spring- 
haan. Ebery thing grow fat in da locust season. Ho ! 
den for dem springhaan ! ’ ’ 

These remarks of Swartboy were true enough. The 
locusts are eaten by almost every species of animal 
known in South Africa. Not only do the carnivora 
3i 


TOe JSusb^oiis 


greedily devour them, but also animals and birds of 
the game kind — such as antelopes, partridges, guinea- 
fowls, bustards, and, strange to say, the giant of all — 
the huge elephant — will travel for miles to overtake a 
migration of locusts ! Domestic fowls, sheep, horses, 
and dogs, devour them with equal greediness. Still 
another strange fact — the locusts eat one another ! If 
any one of them gets hurt, so as to impede his progress, 
the others immediately turn upon him and eat him up ! 

The Bushmen and other native races of Africa sub- 
mit the locusts to a process of cookery before eating 
them ; and during the whole evening Swartboy had 
been engaged in preparing the bagful which he had 
collected. He “ cooked ” them thus : — 

He first boiled, or rather steamed them, for only a 
small quantity of water was put into the pot. This 
process lasted two hours. They were then taken out, 
and allowed to dry ; and after that shaken about in a 
pan, until all the legs and wings were broken off from 
the bodies. A winnowing process— Swartboy ’s thick 
lips acting as a fan — was next gone through ; and the 
legs and wings were thus got rid of. The locusts were 
then ready for eating. _ 

A little salt only was required to render them more 
palatable, when all present made trial of, and some of 
the children even liked them. By many, locusts pre- 
pared in this way are considered quite equal to shrimps ! 
Sometimes they are pounded when quite dry into a 
32 


B Ualfc about Xocusts 


sort of meal, and with water added to them, are made 
into a kind of stirabout. 

When well dried, they will keep for a long time ; 
and they frequently form the only store of food, which 
the poorer natives have to depend upon for a whole 
season. 

Among many tribes — particularly among those who 
are not agricultural — the coming of the locusts is a 
source of rejoicing. These people turn out with sacks, 
and often with pack-oxen to collect and bring them to 
their villages ; and on such occasions vast heaps of 
them are accumulated and stored, in the same way as 
grain ! 

Conversing of these things the night passed on until 
it was time for going to bed. The field-cornet went out 
once again to observe the wind ; and then the door of 
the little kraal was closed and the family retired to 
rest. 

3 


33 


CHAPTER V. 


the eocust-fught. 

T HE field-cornet slept but little. Anxiety kept 
him awake. He turned and tossed, and 
thought of the locusts. He napped at intervals, and 
dreamt about locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers, and 
all manner of great long-legged, goggle-eyed insects. 
He was glad when the first ray of light penetrated 
through the little window of his chamber. 

He sprang to his feet ; and, scarce staying to dress 
himself, rushed out into the open air. It was still 
dark, but he did not respire to see the wind. He did 

not need to toss a fer or hold up his hat. The 

7 c y ,1. 

truth was too plain. A ng breeze was blowing — it 

V "* r U i. 

was blowing from the west . 

Half distracted, he ran farther out to assure himself. 
He ran until clear of the walls that enclosed the kraals 
and garden. 

He halted and felt the air. Alas ! his first impres- 
sion was correct. The breeze blew directly from the 
west — directly from the locusts. He could perceive 
the effluvium borne from the hateful insects : there 
was no longer cause to doubt. 


34 


Qhe Xocust>3FUc|bt 


Groaning in spirit, Von Bloom returned to his house. 
He had no longer any hope of escaping the terrible 
visitation. 

His first directions were to collect all the loose pieces 
of linen or clothing in the house, and pack them within 
the family chests. What ! would the locusts be likely 
to eat them ? 

Indeed, yes — for these voracious creatures are not 
fastidious. No particular vegetable seems to be chosen 
by them. The leaves of the bitter tobacco plant 
appear to be as much to their liking as the sweet and 
succulent blades of maize ! Pieces of linen, cotton, 
and even flannel, are devoured by them, as though 
they were the tender shoots of plants. Stones, iron, 
and hard wood, are about the only objects that escape 
their fierce masticators. 

r '• - 

Von Bloom had heard thr ns had read of it, and 
Swartboy confirmed it from 1 own experience. 

Consequently, everything nac was at all destructible 
was carefully stowed awry ; and then breakfast was 
cooked and eaten in silence. 

There was a gloom over the faces of all, because 
he who was the head of all was silent and dejected. 
What a change within a few hours ! But the evening 
before the field-cornet and his family were in the full 
enjoyment of happiness. 

There was still one hope, though a slight one. Might 
it yet rain ? Or might the day turn out cold ? 

35 


XTbe JBusb^Bo^s 


In either case Swartboy said the locusts could not 
take wing — for they cannot fly in cold or rainy weather. 
In the event of a cold or wet day they would have to 
remain as they were, and perhaps the wind might 
change round again before they resumed their flight. 
Oh, for a torrent of rain, or a cold cloudy day ! 

Vain wish ! vain hope ! In half- an- hour after the 
sun rose up in African splendour, and his hot rays, 
slanting down upon the sleeping host, warmed them 
into life and activity. They commenced to crawl, to 
hop about, and then, as if by one impulse, myriads 
rose into the air. The breeze impelled them in the 
direction in which it was blowing, — in the direction of 
the devoted maize-fields. 

In less than five minutes, from the time they had 
taken wing, they were over the kraal, and dropping 
in tens of thousands upon the surrounding fields. 
Slow was their flight, and gentle their descent, and to 
the eyes of those beneath they presented the appear- 
ance of a shower of black snow, falling in large feathery 
flakes. In a few moments the ground was completely 
covered, until every stalk of maize, every plant and 
bush, carried its hundreds. On the outer plains ,foo, 
as far as eye could see, the pasture was strewed thickly ; 
and as the great flight had now passed to the eastward 
of the house, the sun’s disk was again hidden by them 
as if by an eclipse ! 

They seemed to move in a kind of echellon, the bands 
36 


Qhe %oc ust>jfltgbt 


in the rear constantly flying to the front, and then 
halting to feed, until in turn these were headed by 
others that had advanced over them in a similiar 
manner. 

The noise produced by their wings was not the least 
curious phenomenon ; and resembled a steady breeze 
playing among the leaves of the forest, or the sound * 
of a water-wheel. 

For two hours this passage continued. During most 
of that time, Von Bloom and his people had remained 
within the house, with closed doors and windows. 
This they did to avoid the unpleasant shower, as the 
creatures impelled by the breeze, often strike the cheek 
so forcibly as to cause a feeling of pain. Moreover, 
they did not like treading upon the unwelcome in- 
truders, and crushing them under their feet, which 
they must have done, had they moved about outside 
where the ground was thickly covered. 

Many of the insects even crawled inside, through 
the chinks of the door and windows, and greedily 
devoured any vegetable substance which happened to 
be lying about the floor. 

At the end of two hours Von Bloom looked forth. 
The thickest of the flight had passed. The sun was 
again shining ; but upon what was he shining ? No 
longer upon green fields and a flowery garden. No. 
Around the house, on every side, north, south, east, 
and west, the eye rested only on black desolation. 

37 


Ub e Kusb^Soga 


Not a blade of grass, not a leaf could be seen— even 
the very bark was stripped from the trees, that now 
stood as if withered by the hand of God ! Had fire 
swept the surface, it could not have left it more naked 
and desolate. There was no garden, there were no 
fields of maize or buckwheat, there was no longer a 
farm — the kraal stood in the midst of a desert ! 

Words cannot depict the emotions of the field- cornet 
at that moment. The pen cannot describe his painful 
feelings. 

Such a change in two hours ! He could scarce credit 
his senses — he could scarce believe in its reality. He 
knew that the locusts would eat up his maize, and his 
wheat, and the vegetables of his garden ; but his fancy 
had fallen far short of the extreme desolation that had 
actually been produced. The whole landscape was 
metamorphosed — grass was out of the question — trees, 
whose delicate foliage had played in the soft breeze 
but two short hours before, now stood leafless, scathed 
by worse than winter. The very ground seemed 
altered in shape ! He would not havb known it as his 
own farm. Most certainly had the owner been absent 
during the period of the locust-flight, and approached 
without any information of what had been passing, 
he would not have recognised the place of his own 
habitation ! 

With the phlegm peculiar to his race, the field- 


33 


Ube %ocu8t*jflf0bt 


comet sat down, and remained for a long time without 
speech or movement. 

His children gathered near, and looked on — their 
young hearts painfully throbbing. They could not 
fully appreciate the difficult circumstances in which 
this occurrence had placed them ; nor did their father 
himself at first. He thought only of the loss he had 
sustained, in the destruction of his fine crops ; and 
this of itself, when we consider his isolated situation, 
and the hopelessness of restoring them, was enough to 
cause him very great chagrin. 

“Gone! all gone!” he exclaimed, in a sorrow- 
ing voice. “Oh ! Fortune — Fortune — again art thou 
cruel ! ” 

“ Papa ! do not grieve,” said a soft voice ; “we are 
all alive yet, we are here by your side ’ ’ ; and with the 
words a little white hand was laid upon his shoulder. 
It was the hand of the beautiful Triiey. 

It seemed as if an angel had smiled upon him. He 
lifted the child in his arms, and in a paroxysm of 
fondness pressed' her to his heart. That heart felt 
relieved. 

“Bring me the Book,” said he, addressing one of 
the boys. 

The Bible was brought — its massive covers were 
opened— a verse was chosen — and the song of praise 
rose up in the midst of the desert. 


39 


Uhc Busb^Bops 


The Book was closed ; and for some minutes* all 
knelt in prayer. 

When Von Bloom again stood upon his feet, and 
looked around him, the desert seemed once more to 
“ rejoice and blossom as the rose.” 

Upon the human heart such is the magic influence 
of resignation and humility. 


40 


CHAPTER VI. 


“INSPANN AND TREK ! ” 

ITH all his confidence in the protection of a 



Supreme Being, Von Bloom knew that he 


was not to leave everything to the Divine hand. That 
was not the religion he had been taught ; and he at 
once set about taking measures to extricate himself 
from the unpleasant position in which he was placed. 

Unpleasant position ! Ha ! It was more than un- 
pleasant, as the field-cornet began to perceive. It was 
a position of peril ! 

The more Von Bloom reflected, the more was he 
convinced of this. There they were, in the middle of 
a black naked plain, that without a green spot ex- 
tended beyond the limits of vision. How much farther 
he could not guess ; but he knew that the devastations 
of the migratory locust sometimes cover an area of 
thousands of miles ! It was certain that the one that 
had just swept past was on a very extensive scale. 

It was evident he could no longer remain by his 
kraal. His horses, and cattle, and sheep, could not 
live without food ; and should these perish, upon what 


41 


Uhc :i6u9f>:)Bo£5 


were he and his family to subsist ? He must leave the 
kraal. He must go in search of pasture, without loss 
of time, — at once. Already the animals, shut up be- 
yond their usual hour, were uttering their varied cries, 
impatient to be let out. They would soon hunger; 
and it was hard to say when food could be procured 
for them. 

There was no time to be lost. Every hour was of 
great importance, — even minutes must not be wasted 
in dubious hesitation. 

The field-comet spent but a few minutes in consid- 
eration. Whether should he mount one of his best 
horses, and ride off alone in search of pasture? or 
whether would it not be better to ‘ ‘ inspann ’ ’ his 
wagon, and take everything along with him at once ? 
He soon decided in favour of the latter course. In 
any case he would have been compelled to move from 
his present location, — to leave the kraal altogether. 

He might as well take everything at once. Should 
he go out alone, it might cost him a long time to find 
grass and water — for both would be necessary — and, 
meantime, his stock would be suffering. 

These and other considerations decided him at once 
to “ inspann ” and “ trek ” away, with his wagon, his 
horses, his cattle, his sheep, his “household gods,” 
and his whole family circle. 

“ Inspann and trek ! ” was the command : and Swart- 
boy, who was proud of the reputation he had earned 


42 


“ Ifnspann anb Xlrek ! ” 


as a wagon-driver, was now seen waving his bamboo 
whip like a great fishing-rod. 

“ Inspann and trek ! ” echoed Swartboy, tying 
upon his twenty-feet lash a new cracker, which he 
had twisted out of the skin of the hartebeest antelope. 

‘ * Inspann and trek ! ” he repeated, making his vast 
whip crack like a pistol ; “ yes, baas, I ’ll inspann ” ; 
and, having satisfied himself that his ‘ ‘ voorslag ’ ’ was 
properly adjusted, Swartboy rested the bamboo handle 
against the side of the house, and proceeded to the 
kraal to collect the yoke-oxen. 

A large wagon, of a sort that is the pride and prop- 
erty of every Cape farmer, stood to one side of the 
house. It was a vehicle of the first class,— a regular 
“ cap-tent ” wagon, — that had been made for the field- 
cornet in his better days, and in which he had been 
used to drive his wife and children to the ‘ ‘ nacht- 
maal,” and upon vrolykheids (parties of pleasure). In 
those days a team of eight fine horses used to draw it 
along at a rattling rate. Alas ! oxen had now to take 
their place ; for Von Bloom had but five horses in his 
whole stud, and these were required for the saddle. 

But the wagon was almost as good as ever it had 
been,— almost as good as when it used to be the envy 
of the field-cornet’s neighbours, the boors of Graaf 
Reinet. Nothing was broken. Everything was in its 
place, — “ voor-kist,” and “ achter-kist, ” and side- 
chests. There was the snow-white cap, with its “ fore- 


43 


Ube :©usM6o£S 


clap” and “after-clap,” and its inside pockets, all 
complete ; and the wheels neatly carved, and the well- 
planned boxing and “ disselboom ” and the strong 
“trektow” of buffalo-hide. Nothing was wanting 
that ought to be found about a wagon. It was in 
fact, the best part of the field-cornet’s property that 
remained to him, — for it was equal in value to all the 
oxen, cattle, and sheep, upon his establishment. 

While Swartboy, assisted by Hendrik, was catching 
up the twelve-yoke oxen, and attaching them to the 
disselboom and trektow of the wagon, the “baas” 
himself, aided by Hans, Totty, and also by Triiey and 
little Jan, was loading up the furniture and imple- 
ments. This was not a difficult task. The Penates 
of the little kraal were not numerous, and were all soon 
packed either inside or around the roomy vehicle. 

In about an hour’s time the wagon was loaded up, 
the oxen were inspanned, the horses saddled, and 
everything was ready for “ trekking.” 

And now arose the question, whither f 

Up to this time Von Bloom had only thought of 
getting away from the spot — of escaping beyond the 
naked waste that surrounded him. 

It now became necessary to determine the direction 
in which they were to travel — a most important con-' 
sideration. 

Important, indeed, as a little reflection showed. 
They might go in the direction in which the locusts 


44 


“IFnspann anfc ITrek ! 


had gone, or that in which they had come f On either 
route they might travel for scores of miles without 
meeting with a mouthful of grass for the hungry ani- 
mals : and in such a case these would break down 
and perish. 

Or the travellers might move in some other direc- 
tion, and find grass, but not water. Without water, 
not only would they have to fear for the cattle, but for 
themselves — for their own lives. How important then 
it was, which way they turned their faces ! 

At first the field-cornet bethought him of heading 
towards the settlements. The nearest water in that 
direction was almost fifty miles off. It lay to the 
eastward of the kraal. The locusts had just gone that 
way. They would by this time have laid waste the 
whole country — perhaps to the water or beyond it ! 

It would be a great risk going in that direction. 

Northward lay the Kalihari desert. It would be 
hopeless to steer north. Von Bloom knew of the 
oasis in the desert. Besides the locusts had come 
from the north. They were drifting southward when 
first seen ; and from the time they had been observed 
passing in this last direction, they had no doubt ere 
this wasted the plains far to the south. 

The thoughts of the field-cornet were now turned 
to the west. It is true the swarm had last approached 
from the west ; but Von Bloom fancied they had first 
come down from the north, and that the sudden veer- 
45 


TLhc BusMSops 


ing round of the wind had caused them to change 
direction. He thought that by trekking westward he 
would soon get beyond the ground they had laid 
bare. 

He knew something of the plains to the west — not 
much indeed, but he knew that at about forty miles 
distance there was a spring with good pasturage 
around it, upon whose water he could depend. He 
had once visited it, while on a search for some of 
his cattle that had wandered thus far. Indeed, it 
then appeared to him a better situation for cattle than 
the one he held, and he had often thought of moving 
to it. Its great distance from any civilised settlement 
was the reason why he had not done so. Although 
he was already far beyond the frontier, he still kept 
up a sort of communication with the settlements, 
whereas at the more distant point such a communica- 
tion would be extremely difficult. 

Now that other considerations weighed with him, 
his thoughts once more returned to this spring ; and 
after spending a few minutes more in earnest delibera- 
tion, he decided upon “ trekking” westward. 

Swartboy was ordered to head round, and strike to 
the west. The Bushman promptly leaped to his seat 
upon the voor-kist, cracked his mighty whip, straight- 
ened out his long team, and moved off over the plain. 

Hans and Hendrik were already in their saddles ; 
and having cleared the kraals of all their live stock, 
46 


44 Ifnspann anb Urefc ! ” 


with the assistance of the dogs, drove the lowing and 
bleating animals before them. 

Triiey and little Jan sat beside Swartboy on the fore- 
chest of the wagon ; and the round, full eyes of the 
pretty springbok could be seen peeping curiously out 
from under the cap-tent. 

Casting a last look upon his desolate kraal, the field- 
cornet turned his horse’s head, and rode after the 
wagon. 


47 


CHAPTER VII. 


“water ! WATER ! ” 

N moved the little caravan, but not in silence. 



Swartboy’s voice and whip made an almost 


continual noise. The latter could be plainly heard 
more than a mile over the plain, like repeated dis- 
charges of a musket. Hendrik, too, did a good deal 
in the way of shouting ; and even the usually quiet 
Hans was under the necessity of using his voice to 
urge the flock forward in the right direction. 

Occasionally both the boys were called upon to give 
Swartboy a help with the leading oxen when these 
became obstinate or restive, and would turn out of the 
track. At such times either Hans or Hendrik would 
gallop up, set the heads of the animals right again, 
and ply the “jamboks” upon their sides. 

This “jambok” is a severe chastener to an obsti- 
nate ox. It is an elastic whip made of rhinoceros or 
hippopotamus skin, — hippopotamus is the best, — near 
six feet long, and tapering regularly from butt to tip. 

Whenever the led oxen misbehaved, and Swartboy 
could not reach them with his long “voorslag,” 


44 Mater! TOater!" 


Hendrik was ever ready to tickle them with his tough 
jambok ; and, by this means, frighten them into good 
behaviour. Indeed, one of the boys was obliged to 
be at their head nearly all the time. 

A “leader” is used to accompany most teams of 
oxen in South Africa. But those of the field-cornet 
had been accustomed to draw the wagon without one, 
ever since the Hottentot servants ran away; and 
Swartboy had driven many miles with no other help 
than his long whip. But the strange look of every- 
thing, since the locusts passed, had made the oxen 
shy and wild ; besides the insects had obliterated 
every track or path which oxen would have followed. 
The whole surface was alike, — there was neither trace 
nor mark. Even Von Bloom himself could with diffi- 
culty recognise the features of the country, and had 
to guide himself by the sun in the sky. 

Hendrik stayed mostly by the head of the leading 
oxen. Hans had no difficulty in driving the flock 
when once fairly started. A sense of fear kept all 
together, and as there was no herbage upon any side 
to tempt them to stray, they moved regularly on. 

Von Bloom rode in front to guide the caravan. 
Neither he nor any of them had made any change in 
their costume, but travelled in their every-day dress. 
The field-cornet himself was habited after the manner 
of most boors, — in wide leathern trousers, termed in 
that country “ crackers a large roomy jacket of 

4 


49 


Uhc JSusb^o^s 


green cloth, with ample outside pockets ; a fawn-skin 
waistcoat ; a huge white felt hat, with the broadest 
of brims; and upon bis feet a pair of brogans of 
African unstained leather, known among the boors 
as “ feldt-schoenen ” (country shoes). Over bis sad- 
dle lay a * 1 kaross, ’ ’ or robe of leopard-skins, and upon 
bis shoulder he carried his “ roer a large, smooth- 
bore gun, about six feet in length, with an old-fash- 
ioned flint-lock, — quite a load of itself. This is the 
gun in which the boor puts all his trust ; and although 
an American backwoodsman would at first sight be 
disposed to laugh at such a weapon, a little knowledge 
of the boor’s country would change his opinion of the 
‘ ‘ roer. ’ ’ His own weapon — the small-bore rifle, with 
a bullet less than a pea — would be almost useless 
among the large game that inhabits the country of 
the boor. Upon the ‘ * karoos ’ ’ of Africa there are 
crack shots and sterling hunters, as well as in the 
backwoods or on the prairies of America. 

Curving round under the field-cornet’s left arm, and 
resting against his side, was an immense powder-horn 
— of such size as could only be produced upon the 
head of an African ox. It was from the country of 
the Bechuanas, though nearly all Cape oxen grow 
horns of vast dimensions. Of course it was used to 
carry the field-cornet’s powder, and, if full, it must 
have contained half-a-dozen pounds at least ! A leop- 
ard-skin pouch hanging under his right arm, a hunt- 
50 


44 Mater! Mater!” 


ing-knife stuck in his waist-belt, and a large meerchaum 
pipe through the baud of his hat, completed the equip- 
ments of the trek-boor, Von Bloom. 

Hans and Hendrik were very similarly attired, 
armed, and equipped. Of course their trousers were 
of dressed sheepskin, wide — like the trousers of all 
young boors— and they also wore jackets and “feldt- 
schoenen,” and broad-brimmed white hats. Hans 
carried a light fowling-piece, while Hendrik’s gun 
was a stout rifle of the kind known as a “yager” — 
an excellent gun for large game. In this piece Hen- 
drik had great pride, and had learnt to drive a nail 
with it at nearly a hundred paces. Hendrik was par 
excellence the marksman of the party. Kach of the 
boys also carried a large crescent-shaped powder-horn, 
with a pouch for bullets ; and over the saddle of each 
was strapped the robe or “kaross,” differing only from 
their father’s in that his was of the rarer leopard-skin, 
while theirs were a commoner sort, one of antelope, 
and the other of jackal-skin, kittle Jan also wore 
wide trousers, jacket, “ feldt-schoenen,” and broad- 
brimmed beaver, — in fact, Jan, although scarce a yard 
high, was, in point of costume, a type of his father, — 
a diminutive type of the boor. Triiey was habited in 
a skirt of blue woollen stuff, with a neat bodice elabo- 
rately stitched and embroidered after the Dutch fash- 
ion, and over her fair locks she wore a light sun-hat 
of straw with a ribbon and strings. Totty was very 
5i 


Uhc JBusMBo^s 


plainly attired in strong homespun, without any head- 
dress. As for Swartboy, a pair of old leathern “ crack- 
ers ’ ’ and a striped shirt were all the clothing he carried, 
beside his sheep-skin “kaross.” Such were the cos- 
tumes of our travellers. 

For full twenty miles the plain was wasted bare. 
Not a bite could the beasts obtain, and water there 
was none. The sun during the day shone brightly, — 
too brightly, for his beams were as hot as within the 
tropics. The travellers could scarce have borne them 
had it not been that a stiff breeze was blowing all day 
long. But this unfortunately blew directly in their 
faces, and the dry “karoos ” are never without dust. 
The constant hopping of the locusts with their millions 
of tiny feet had loosened the crust of earth ; and now 
the dust rose freely upon the wind. Clouds of it 
enveloped the little caravan, and rendered their for- 
ward movement both difficult and disagreeable. Tong 
before night their clothes were covered, their mouths 
filled, and their eyes sore. 

But all that was nothing. Tong before night a far 
greater grievance was felt, — the want of water. 

In their hurry to escape from the desolate scene at 
the kraal, Von Bloom had not thought of bringing a 
supply in the wagon — a sad oversight, in a country 
like South Africa, where springs are so rare, and run- 
ning streams so uncertain. A sad oversight indeed, 
as they now learnt — for long before night they were 
52 


“ Mater! Mater!" 


all crying out for water— all were equally suffering 
from the pangs of thirst. 

Von Bloom thirsted but he did not think of him- 
self, except that he suffered from self-accusation. He 
blamed himself for neglecting to bring a needful supply 
of water. He was the cause of the sufferings of all 
the rest. He felt sad and humbled on account of his 
thoughtless negligence. 

He could promise them no relief — at least none until 
they should reach the spring. He knew of no water 
nearer. 

It would be impossible to reach the spring that 
night. It was late when they started. Oxen travel 
slowly. Half the distance would be as much as they 
could make by sundown. 

To reach the water they would have to travel all 
night ; but they could not do that for many reasons. 
The oxen would require to rest — the more so that they 
were hungered ; and now Von Bloom thought, when 
too late, of another neglect he had committed — that 
was, in not collecting, during the flight of the locusts, 
a sufficient quantity of them to have given his cattle 
a feed. 

This plan is often adopted under similiar circum- 
stances ; but the field-comet had not thought of it : 
and as but few locusts fell in the kraals where the 
animals had been confined, they had therefore been 
without food since the previous day. The oxen in 


53 


tlbe 3Busb*3SoES 


particular showed symptoms of weakness, and drew 
the wagon sluggishly ; so that Swartboy’s voice and 
long whip were kept in constant action. 

But there were other reasons why they would have 
to halt when night came on. The field-comet was 
not sure of the direction. He would not be able to 
follow it by night, as there was not the semblance of 
a track to guide him. Besides it would be dangerous 
to travel by night, for then the nocturnal robber of 
Africa — the fierce lion — is abroad. 

They would be under the necessity, therefore, of 
halting for the night, water or no water. 

It wanted yet half-an-hour of sundown when Von 
Bloom had arrived at this decision. He only kept on 
a little farther in hopes of reaching a spot where there 
was grass. They were now more than twenty miles 
from their starting-point, and still the black ‘ ‘ spoor ’ ’ 
of the locusts covered the 'plain. Still no grass to be 
seen, still the bushes bare of their leaves, and barked ! 

The field-cornet began to think that he was trekking 
right in the way the locusts had come. Westward he 
was heading for certain ; he knew that. But he was 
not yet certain that the flight had not advanced from 
the west instead of the north. If so, they might go 
for days before coming upon a patch of grass ! 

These thoughts troubled him, and with anxious 
eyes he swept the plain in front, as well as to the 
right and left. 


54 


44 Mater! Mater !” 


A shout from the keen-eyed Bushman produced a 
joyful effect. He saw grass in front. He saw some 
bushes with leaves ! They were still a mile off, but 
the oxen, as if the announcement had been understood 
by them, moved more briskly forward. 

Another mile passed over, and they came upon 
grass, sure enough. It was a very scanty pasture, 
though — a few scattered blades growing over the red- 
dish surface, but in no place a mouthful for an ox. 
There was just enough to tantalize the poor brutes 
without filling their stomachs. It assured Von Bloom, 
however, that they had now got beyond the track of the 
locusts ; and he kept on a little farther in hopes that the 
pasture might get better. 

It did not, however. The country through which 
they advanced was a wild, sterile plain — almost as 
destitute of vegetation as that over which they had 
hitherto been travelling. It n^longer owed its naked- 
ness to the locusts, but to the absence of water. 

They had no more time to search for pasture. The 
sun was already below the horizon when they halted to 
“ outspann.” 

A “kraal” should have been built for the cattle, 
and another for the sheep and goats. There were 
bushes enough to have constructed them, but who of 
that tired party had the heart to cut them down and 
drag them to the .spot ? 

It was labour enough — the slaughtering a sheep for 
55 


XTbe ^Busb^ops 


supper, and collecting sufficient wood to cook it. No 
kraal was made. The horses were tied around the 
wagon. The oxen, cattle, and sheep and goats, were 
left free to go where they pleased. As there was no 
pasture near to tempt them, it was hoped that, after 
the fatigue of their long journey, they would not stray 
far from the camp-fire, which was kept burning through- 
out the night. 


56 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE} FATE} OF THE} HE}RD. 

B UT they did stray. 

When day broke, and the travellers looked 
around them, not a head of the oxen or cattle was to 
be seen. Yes, there was one, and one only — the milch- 
cow. Totty, after milking her on the previous night, 
had left her tied to a bush where she still remained. 
All the rest were gone, and the sheep and goats as 
well. 

Whither had they strayed ? 

The horses were mounted, and search was made. 
The sheep and goats were found among some bushes 
not far off ; but it soon appeared that the other animals 
had gone clean away. 

Their spoor was traced for a mile or two. It led 
back on the very track they had come ; and no doubt 
any longer existed that they had returned to the kraal. 

To overtake them before reaching that point, would 
be difficult, if at all possible. Their tracks showed 
that they had gone off early in the night, and had 
travelled at a rapid rate — so that by this time they had 
most likely arrived at their old home. 

57 


Ube Busb=36o^s 


This was a sad discovery. To have followed them 
on the thirsting and hungry horses would have been a 
useless work ; yet without the yoke- oxen how was the 
wagon to be taken forward to the spring ? 

It appeared to be a sad dilemma they were in ; but 
after a short consultation the thoughtful Hans sug- 
gested a solution of it. 

“Can we not attach the horses to the wagon?” 
inquired he. “The five could surely draw it on to 
the spring ? ’ ’ 

“What! and leave the cattle behind?” said Hen- 
drik. “If we do not go after them, they will be all 
lost, and then ” 

“ We could go for them afterwards,” replied Hans ; 

‘ ‘ but is it not better first to push forward to the spring ; 
and, after resting the horses a while, return then for the 
oxen? They will have reached the kraal by this 
time. There they will be sure of water anyhow, and 
that will keep them alive till we get there.” 

The course suggested by Hans seemed feasible 
enough. At all events, it was the best plan they 
could pursue ; so they at once set about putting it in 
execution. The horses were attached to the wagon in 
the best way they could think of. Fortunately some 
old horse-harness formed part of the contents of the 
vehicle, and these were brought out and fitted on, as 
well as could be done. 

Two horses were made fast to the disselboom as 
58 


Uhc jfate of tbe Iberfc 


“wheelers” ; two others to the trektow cut to the 
proper length ; and the fifth horse was placed in front 
as a leader. 

When all was ready, Swartboy again mounted the 
voor-kist, gathered up his reins, cracked his whip, and 
set his team in motion. To the delight of every one, 
the huge heavy-laden wagon moved off as freely as if 
a full team had been inspanned. 

Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Hans, cheered as it 
passed them ; and setting the milch-cow and the flock 
of sheep and goats in motion, moved briskly after. 
Tittle Jan and Triiey, still rode in the wagon ; but the 
others now travelled a-foot, partly because they had 
the flock to drive, and partly that they might not 
increase the load upon the horses. 

They all suffered greatly from thirst, but they would 
have suffered still more had it not been for that valu- 
able creature that trotted along behind the wagon — the 
cow — ‘ ‘ old Graaf, ’ ’ as she was called. She had yielded 
several pints of milk, both the night before and that 
morning ; and this well-timed supply had given con- 
siderable relief to the travellers. 

The horses behaved beautifully. Notwithstanding 
that their harness was both incomplete and ill fitted, 
they pulled the wagon along after them as if not a 
strap or buckle had been wanting. They appeared 
to know that their kind master was in a dilemma, and 
were determined to draw him out of it. Perhaps, too, 


59 


Uhc JSusb^o^s 


they smelt the spring- water before them. At all events 
before they had been many hours in harness, they 
were drawing the wagon through a pretty little valley 
covered with green, meadow-looking sward ; and in 
five minutes more were standing halted near a cool 
crystal spring. 

In a short time all had drunk heartily, and were 
refreshed. The horses were turned out upon the grass, 
and the other animals browsed over the meadow. A 
good fire was made near the spring, and a quarter of 
mutton cooked — upon which the travellers dined — and 
then all sat waiting for the horses to fill themselves. 

The field-cornet, seated upon one of the wagon- 
chests, smoked his great pipe. He could have been 
contented, but for one thing — the absence of his 
cattle. 

He had arrived at a beautiful pasture-ground — a 
sort of oasis in the wild plains, where there were 
wood, water, and grass, — everything that the heart of a 
‘ ‘ vee-boor ’ ’ could desire. It did not appear to be a 
large tract, but enough to have sustained many hun- 
dred head of cattle — enough for a very fine ‘ ‘ stock 
farm.” It would have answered his purpose admira- 
bly ; and had he succeeded in bringing on his oxen 
and cattle, he would at that moment have felt happy 
enough. But without them what availed the fine pas- 
turage ? What could he do there without them to 
stock it ? They were his wealth — at least, he had 
60 


Qftc jfate of tbe Iberfc 


hoped in time that their increase would become wealth. 
They were c.21 of excellent breeds ; and, with the ex- 
ception of his twelve-yoke oxen, and one or two long- 
horned Bechuana bulls, all the others were fine young 
cows calculated soon to produce a large herd. 

Of course his anxiety about these animals rendered 
it impossible for him to enjoy a moment’s peace of 
mind, until he should start back in search of them. 
He had only taken out his pipe to pass the time, while 
the horses were gathering a bite of grass. As soon as 
their strength should be recruited a little, it was his 
design to take three of the strongest of them, and with 
Hendrik and Swartboy, ride back to the old kraal. 

As soon, therefore, as the horses were ready for the 
road again, they were caught and saddled up ; and 
Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Swartboy, mounted and 
set out, while Hans remained in charge of the camp. 

They rode at a brisk rate, determined to travel all 
night, and, if possible, reach the kraal before morning. 
At the last point on the route where there was grass, 
they off-saddled, and allowed their horses to rest and 
refresh themselves. They had brought with them 
some slices of the roast mutton, and this time they had 
not forgotten to fill their gourd-canteens with water — 
so that they should not again suffer from thirst. After 
an hour’s halt they continued their journey. 

It was quite night when they arrived at the spot 
where the oxen had deserted them ; but a clear moon 

61 


Ghe JSusb=JSo^5 


was in the sky, and they were able to follow back 
the wheel-tracks of the wagon, that were quite con- 
spicuous under the moonlight. Now and then to be 
satisfied, Von Bloom requested Swartboy to examine 
the spoor, and see whether the cattle had still kept the 
back-track. To answer this gave no great trouble to 
the Bushman. He would drop from his horse, and 
bending over the ground, would reply in an instant. 
In every case the answer was in the affirmative. The 
animals had certainly gone back to their old home. 

Von Bloom believed they would be sure to find them 
there, but should they find them alive f That was the 
question that rendered him anxious. 

The creatures could obtain water by the spring, but 
food — where ? Not a bite would they find anywhere, 
and would not hunger have destroyed them all before 
this ? 

Day was breaking when they came in sight of the 
old homestead. It presented a very odd appearance. 
Not one of the three would have recognised it. After 
the invasion of the locusts it showed a very altered 
look, but now there was something else that added to 
the singularity of its appearance. A row of strange 
objects seemed to be placed upon the roof ridge, and 
along the walls of the kraals. What were these strange 
objects, for they certainly did not belong to the build- 
ings ? This question was put by Von Bloom, partly to 
himself, but loud enough for the others to hear him, 

62 


Zhe fate of the Iberb 


“ Da vogels ! ” (the vultures), replied Swartboy. 

Sure enough, it was a string of vultures that appeared 
along the walls. 

The sight of these filthy birds w T as more than omi- 
nous. It filled Von Bloom with apprehension. What 
could they be doing there ? There must be carrion 
near ? 

The party rode forward. The day was now up, and 
the vultures had grown busy. They flapped their 
shadowy wings, rose from the walls, and alighted at 
different points around the house. 

“Surely there must be carrion,” muttered Von 
Bloom. 

There was carrion, and plenty of it. As the horse- 
men drew near the vultures rose into the air, and a 
score of half-devoured carcasses could be seen upon the 
ground. The long curving horns that appeared beside 
each carcass, rendered it easy to tell to what sort of 
animals they belonged. In the torn and mutilated 
fragments, Von Bloom recognised the remains of his 
lost herd ! 

Not one was left alive. There could be seen the 
remains of all of them, both cows and oxen, lying near 
the enclosures and on the adjacent plain — each where 
it had fallen. 

But how had they fallen ? That was the mystery. 

Surely they could not have perished of hunger, and 
so suddenly ? They could not have died of thirst, for 
63 


Qftc Busfo^o^s 


there was the spring bubbling up just beside where 
they lay ? The vultures had not killed them ! What 
then ? 

Von Bloom did not ask many questions. He was 
not left long in doubt. As he and his companions 
rode over the ground, the mystery was explained. 
The tracks of lions, hyenas, and jackals, made every- 
thing clear enough. A large troop of these animals 
had been upon the ground. The scarcity of game, 
caused by the migration of the locusts, had no doubt 
rendered them more than usually ravenous, and in 
consequence the cattle became their prey. 

Where were they now ? The morning light, and 
the sight of the house perhaps, had driven them off. 
But their spoor was quite fresh. They were near at 
hand, and would be certain to return again upon the 
following night. 

Von Bloom felt a strong desire to be revenged upon 
the hideous brutes ; and, under other circumstances, 
would have remained to get a shot at them. But just 
then that would have been both imprudent and un- 
profitable work. It would be as much as their horses 
could accomplish, to get back to camp that night ; so, 
without even entering the old house, they watered 
their animals, refilled their calabashes at the spring, 
and with heavy hearts once more rode away from the 
kraal. 


64 


CHAPTER IX. 


A IvION “COUCHANT.” 



HEY had not proceeded an hundred steps when 


JL an object appeared before them that caused all 
three to draw bridle suddenly and simultaneously. 
That object was a lion ! 

He was couched upon the plain directly in the path 
they intended to take — the very same path by which 
they had come ! 

How was it they had not seen him before ? He was 
under the lee of a low bush ; but, thanks to the locusts, 
this bush was leafless, and its thin naked twigs formed 
no concealment for so large a creature as a lion. His 
tawny hide shone conspicuously through them. 

The truth is, he had not been there when the horse- 
men passed towards the kraal. He had just fled from 
among the carcasses, on seeing them approach ; and 
had skulked around the walls, and then run to their 
rear. He had executed this manoeuvre to avoid an 
encounter — for a lion reasons as a man does, though 
not to the same extent. Seeing the horsemen come 
that way, his reasoning powers were strong enough to 


5 


TLhe JSusMSo^s 


tell him that they were not likely to return by the 
same path. It was more natural they should continue 
on. A man, ignorant of all the preceding events con- 
nected with their journey, would have reasoned much 
in the same way. If you have been at all observant, 
you have seen other animals — such as dogs, deer, hares, 
or even birds — act just as the lion did on this occasion. 

Beyond a doubt the intellectual process described 
passed through the mind of this lion ; and he had 
skulked round to shun an encounter with the three 
travellers. 

Now a lion will not always act so — though he will 
in five cases out of six, or oftener. Hence very erro- 
neous views are held in relation to the courage of this 
animal. Some naturalists, led away by what appears 
to be a feeling of envy or anger, accuse the lion of 
downright cowardice denying him a single noble quality 
of all those that have from earliest times been ascribed 
to him ! Others, on the contrary, assert that he knows 
no fear, either of man or beast ; and these endow him 
with many virtues besides courage. Both parties back 
up their views, not by mere assertions, but by an 
ample narration of well-attested facts ! 

How is this ? There is a dilemma here. Both can- 
not be right in their opinions? And yet, odd as it 
may appear to say so, both are right in a certain sense. 

The fact is, some lions are cowardly , while others are 
brave. 


66 


B %i on “Coucbant” 


The truth of this might be shown by whole pages of 
facts, but in this little volume we have not room. I 
think, however, boy reader, I can satisfy you with an 
analogy. 

Answer me — Do you know any species of animal, 
the individuals of which are exactly alike in character ? 
Think over the dogs of your acquaintance / Are they 
alike, or anything near it ? Are not some of them 
noble, generous, faithful, brave to the death ? Are not 
others mean, sneaking, cowardly curs ? So is it with 
lions. 

Now, you are satisfied that my statement about the 
lions may be true. 

There are many causes to affect the courage and 
ferocity of the lion. His age — the state of his stomach 
— the season of the year — the hour of the day — but, 
above all, the sort of hunters that belong to the district 
he inhabits. 

This last fact appears quite natural to those who 
believe in the intellect of animals, which of course / 
do. It is perfectly natural that the lion, as well as 
other animals, should soon learn the character of his 
enemy, and fear him or not, as the case may be. Is 
this not an old story with us ? If I remember aright, 
we had a talk upon this subject when speaking of the 
crocodiles of America. We remarked that the alliga- 
tor of the Mississippi rarely attacks man in modern 
times ; but it has not been always so. The rifle of the 
67 


XTbe 


alligator-leather hunter has tamed its ferocity. The 
very same species in South America eats Indians by 
scores every year ; and the crocodile of Africa is 
dreaded in some parts even more than the lion ! 

It is asserted that the lions of the Cape are more 
cowardly in some districts than in others. They are 
less brave in those districts where they have been 
“jaged” by the courageous and stalwart boor with 
his long loud-cracking “ roer.” 

Beyond the frontier, where they have no enemy but 
the tiny arrow of the Bushman (who does not desire 
to kill them ! ) and the slender “ asegai ” of the Bech- 
uana, the lion has little or no fear of man. 

Whether the one, before the eyes of our party, was 
naturally a brave one, could not yet be told. He was 
one with a huge black mane, or “ sch wart-fore life,” 
as the boors term it ; and these are esteemed the 
fiercest and most dangerous. The “yellow-maned,” 
— for there is considerable variety in the colour of the 
Cape lions — is regarded as possessing less courage ; 
but there is some doubt about the truth of this. The 
young ‘ ‘ black-manes ’ ’ may often be mistaken for the 
true yellow variety, and their character ascribed to 
him to his prejudice, — for the swarthy colour of the 
mane only comes after the lion is many years of 
age. 

Whether the ‘ ‘ sch wart-fore life ’ ’ was a fierce and 
brave one, Von Bloom did not stay to think about. 


68 


H % ton “ Coucbant 


It was evident that the edge had been taken off the 
animal’s appetite. It was evident he did not meditate 
an attack ; and that had the horsemen chosen to make 
a detour, and ride peacefully away, they might have 
continued their journey without ever seeing or hearing 
of him again. 

But the field-cornet had no such intention. He had 
lost his precious oxen and cattle. That lion had pulled 
down some of them, at least. The Dutch blood was 
up, and if the beast had been the strongest and fiercest 
of his tribe, he was bound to be brought out of that 
bush. 

Ordering the others to remain where they were, 
Von Bloom advanced on horseback until within 
about fifty paces of where the lion lay. Here he 
drew up, coolly dismounted, passed the bridle over 
his arm, stuck his loading-rod into the ground, and 
knelt down behind it. 

You will fancy he would have been safer to have 
kept his saddle, as the lion cannot overtake a horse. 
True ; but the lion would have been safer too. It is 
no easy matter to fire correctly from any horse, but 
when the mark happens to be a grim lion, he is a 
well-trained steed that will stand sufficiently firm to 
admit of a true aim. A shot from the saddle under 
such circumstances is a mere chance shot ; and the 
field-cornet was not in the mood to be satisfied with 
a chance shot. Taying his roer athwart the loading- 
69 


Ube JSusb=JBo^5 


rod, and holding the long barrel steady against it, he 
took deliberate aim through the ivory sights. 

During all this time the lion had not stirred. The 
bush was between him and the hunter ; but he could 
hardly have believed that it sufficed to conceal him. 
Far from it. His yellow flanks were distinctly visible 
through the thorny twigs, and his head could be seen 
with his muzzle and whiskers stained red with the 
blood of the oxen. 

No — he did not believe himself hid. A slight 
growl, with one or two shakes of his tail, proved 
the contrary. He lay still however, as lions usually 
do, until more nearly approached. The hunter, as 
already stated, was full fifty yards from him. 

Excepting the motion of his tail, he made no other 
till Von Bloom pulled trigger ; and then with a scream 
he sprang several feet into the air. The hunter had 
been afraid of the twigs causing his bullet to glance 
off ; but it was plain it had told truly, for he saw the 
fur fly from the side of the lion where it struck him. 

It was but a wound ; and not deadly, as soon 
appeared. 

With long bounds the angry brute came on — lash- 
ing his tail, and showing his fearful teeth. His mane, 
now on end, seemed to have doubled his size. He 
looked as large as a bull ! 

In a few seconds’ time he had crossed the distance 
that separated him from the hunter, but the latter was 
70 


H Xiotx “Coucbant” 


gone far from that spot. The moment he had deliv- 
ered his fire, he leaped upon his well-trained horse, 
and rode off towards the others. 

All three were for a short while together — Hendrik 
holding his yager cocked and ready, while Swartboy 
grasped his bow and arrows. But the lion dashed 
forward before either could fire ; and they were obliged 
to spur and gallop out of his way. 

Swartboy had ridden to one side, while Von Bloom 
and Hendrik took the other ; and the game was now 
between the two parties — both of which had pulled 
up at some distance off. 

The lion, after the failure of his charge, halted, 
and looked first at one, then at the other — as if uncer- 
tain which to pursue. 

His appearance at this moment was terrible beyond 
expression. His whole fierce nature was roused. His 
mane stood erect — his tail lashed his flanks — his 
mouth, widely open, showed the firm-set trenchant 
teeth — their white spikes contrasting with the red 
blood that clotted his cheeks and snout, while his 
angry roaring added horror to his appearance. 

But none of the three were terrified out of their 
senses. Hendrik at this moment covered him with 
his rifle, took cool aim, and fired ; while at the same 
instant Swartboy sent an arrow whistling through 
the air. 

Both had aimed truly. Both bullet and arrow 
7i 


Ube JBusb^JSops 


struck ; and the shaft of the latter could be seen stick- 
ing in the lion’s thigh. 

The fierce brute that up to this time had exhibited 
the most determined courage, now seemed overcome 
with a sudden fear. Hither the arrow or one of the 
bullets must have sickened him with the combat ; 
for, dropping his mop-like tail to a level with the line 
of his back, he broke away ; and, trotting sulkily for- 
ward, sprang in at the door of the kraal ! 


72 


CHAPTER X. 


A UON IN THE TRAP 



HERE was something singular in the lion seek- 


ing shelter in so unusual a place ; but it showed 


his sagacity. There was no other cover within conve- 
nient distance, and to have reached any bush that 
would have afforded him concealment, since the pas- 
sage of the locusts, would have been difficult. The 
mounted hunters could easily have overtaken him, had 
he attempted to run off. He was aware that the house 
was uninhabited. He had been prowling around it all 
the night — perhaps within it — and therefore knew what 
sort of place it was. 

The brute’s instinct was correct. The walls of the 
house would protect him frcm the guns of his enemies 
at a distance ; and for these to approach near would be 
to his advantage and their danger. 

An odd incident occurred as the lion entered the 
kraal. There was a large window in one end of the 
house. Of course it was not glazed — it never had 
been. A glass window is a rarity in these parts. 
A strong wooden shutter alone closed it. This was 
still hanging on its hinges, but in the hurried ‘ ‘ flit- 


73 


TLhc :I6usM6o£S 


ting,” the window had been left open. The door also 
had been standing ajar. As the lion sprang in at the 
latter, a string of small foxy wolf-like creatures came 
pouring out through the former, and ran with all their 
might across the plain. They were jackals. 

As it afterwards appeared, one of the oxen had been 
chased into the house either by lions or hyenas, and 
killed there. His carcass had been overlooked by the 
larger carnivora, and the cunning jackals had been 
making a quiet breakfast upon it, when so unceremo- 
niously disturbed. 

The entrance of their terrible king in such angry 
mood, by the door, caused the fox-wolves to beat a 
quick retreat by the window ; and the appearance of 
the horsemen without had still further frightened these 
cowardly brutes, so that they ran away from the kraal 
at top speed, and never halted until they were out of 
sight ! 

The three hunters could not restrain a laugh ; but 
their tone was suddenly changed by another incident 
that happened almost at the same moment. 

Von Bloom had brought with him his two fine dogs, 
to assist in driving back the cattle. 

During the short halt the party had made by the 
spring, these had fastened upon a half-eaten carcass 
behind the walls ; and, being extremely hungry, had 
stuck to it, even after the horsemen had ridden off. 
Neither of the dogs had seen the lion, until the mo- 
74 


H 3Lion in tbe TTrap 


ment when the savage brute charged forward, and was 
making for the kraal. The shots, the growling of the 
lion, and the loud wings of the vultures as they flew 
off affrighted, told the dogs that something was going 
on in front, at which they ought to be present ; and, 
forsaking their pleasant meal, both came bounding 
over the walls. 

They reached the open space in front, just as the lion 
leaped into the door ; and without hesitation the brave 
noble animals rushed on, and followed him inside the 
house. 

For some moments there was heard a confused 
chorus of noises — the barking and worrying of the dogs, 
the growling and roaring of the lion. Then a dull 
sound followed as of some heavy object dashed against 
the wall. Then came a mournful howl — another, 
another — a noise like the cracking of bones — the 
‘ ‘ purr ’ ’ of the great brute with its loud rough bass — 
and then a deep silence. The struggle was over. 
This was evident, as the dogs no longer gave tongue. 
Most likely they were killed. 

The hunters remained watching the door with feel- 
ings of intense anxiety. The laugh had died upon 
their lips, as they listened to those hideous .sounds, 
the signs of a fearful combat. They called their dogs 
by name. They hoped to see them issue forth, even 
if wounded. But no. The dogs came not forth — 
they never came forth — they were dead ! 

75 


Zh e :JBusMBogs 


A long-continued silence followed the noise of the 
conflict. Von Bloom could no longer doubt that his 
favourite and only dogs had been killed. 

Excited by this new misfortune he almost lost pru- 
dence. He was about to rush forward to the door, 
where he might deliver his fire close to the hated 
enemy, when a bright idea came into the brain of 
Swartboy ; and the Bushman was heard calling out, — 

“ Baas ! baas ! we shut him up ! we close da skel- 
lum up ! ” 

There was good sense in this suggestion — there was 
plausibility in it. Von Bloom saw this ; and, desisting 
from his previous intention, he determined to adopt 
Swartboy’ s plan. 

But how was it to be executed ? The door still hung 
upon its hinges, as also the window-shutter. If they 
could only get hold of these, and shut them fast, they 
would have the lion secure, and might destroy him at 
their leisure. 

But how to shut either door or window in safety ? 
That was the difficulty that now presented itself. 

Should they approach either, the lion would be cer- 
tain to see them from within ; and, enraged as he now 
was, would be sure to spring upon them. Even if 
they approached on horseback to effect their purpose, 
they would not be much safer. The horses would not 
stand quiet while they stretched out to lay hold of 
latch or handle. All three of the animals were al- 
76 


B %ion in tbe Urap 


ready dancing with excitement. They knew the lion 
was inside, an occasional growl announced his pres- 
ence there — they would not approach either door or 
window with sufficient coolness ; and their stamping 
and snorting would have the effect of bringing the 
angry beast out upon them. 

It was clear, then, that to shut either door or win- 
dow would be an operation of great danger. So long 
as the horsemen were in open ground, and at some 
distance from the lion, they had no cause for fear ; 
but should they approach near and get entangled 
among the walls, some one of them would be most 
likely to fall a victim to the ferocious brute. 

Tow as may be the standard of a Bushman’s intel- 
lect, there is a species of it peculiar to him in which 
he appears to excel. In all matters of hunter-craft, 
his intelligence, or instinct you might almost call it, 
is quite a match for the more highly-developed mind 
of the Caucasian. This arises, no doubt, from the 
keen and frequent exercise of those particular facul- 
ties, — keen and frequent, because his very existence 
often depends on their successful employment. 

Huge, ill-shapen head as Swartboy carried on his 
shoulders, there was an ample stock of brains in it ; 
and a life of keen endeavour to keep his stomach sup- 
plied had taught him their exercise. At that moment 
Swartboy’ s brains came to the relief of the party. 

“ Baas ! ” he said, endeavouring to restrain the ini- 
77 


Zh c JBusI>Bops 


patience of his master, ‘ ‘ vyacht um bige, mein baas ! 
Teave it to da ole Bushy to close da door. He do it.” 

“ How ? ” inquired Von Bloom. 

“Vyacht um bige, mein baas ! no long to wait, — 
you see.” 

All three had ridden up together within less than 
an hundred yards of the kraal. Von Bloom and Hen- 
drik sat silent, and watched the proceedings of the 
Bushman. 

The latter drew from his pocket a clew of small 
cord, and, having carefully uncoiled it, attached one 
end to an arrow. He then rode up to within thirty 
yards of the house, and dismounted — not directly op- 
posite the entrance, but a little to the one side — so 
that the face of the wooden door, which was fortu- 
nately but three-quarters open, was thus fair before 
him. Keeping the bridle over his arm, he now bent 
his bow, and sent the arrow into the woodwork of the 
door. There it was, sticking near the edge, and just 
under the latch ! 

As soon as Swartboy delivered the shaft, he had 
leaped back into his saddle — to be ready for retreat in 
case the lion should spring out. He still, however, 
kept hold of the string, one end of which was attached 
to the arrow. 

The “thud” of the arrow, as it struck the door, 
had drawn the attention of the lion. Of course, none 
of them saw him, but his angry growl told them that 
78 


a 3lion in tbe Urap 


it was so. He did not show himself, however, and 
was again silent. 

Swartboy now drew tbe string taut, — first felt it 
with a steady pull, and then, satisfied of its strength, 
gave it a stronger jerk, and brought the door to. The 
latch acted beautifully, and the door remained shut 
even after the strain was taken off the cord. 

To have opened the door now the lion must have 
had the sagacity to lift the latch, or else must have 
broken through the thick, strong planks — neither of 
which was to be feared. 

But the window still remained open, and through 
it the lion could easily leap out. Swartboy, of course, 
designed closing it in the same manner as he had done 
the door. 

But now arose a particular danger. He had only 
one piece of cord. That was attached to the arrow 
that still stuck fast. How was he to detach and get 
possession of it ? 

There appeared to be no other way but by going up 
to the door and cutting it from the shaft. In this lay 
the danger ; for, should the lion perceive him and rush 
out by the window, it would be all over with the Bush- 
man. 

Tike most of his race, Swartboy was more cunning 
than brave — though he was far from being a coward. 
Still he was by no means inclined at that moment to 
go up to the door of the kraal. 

79 


Uhc BusMBops 


The angry growls from within would have made a 
stouter heart than Swartboy’ s quail with fear. 

In this dilemma Hendrik came to his relief. Hen- 
drik had conceived a way of getting possession of the 
string, without going near the door ! 

Calling to Swartboy to be on his guard, he rode 
within thirty yards of the entrance — but on the other 
side from where Swartboy was — and there halted. 
At the place there stood a post with several forks 
upon it, that had been used as a bridle-post. 

Hendrik dismounted, hooked his rein over one of 
these forks ; rested his yager across another ; and then, 
sighting the shaft of the arrow, pulled trigger. The 
rifle cracked, the broken stick was seen to fly out from 
the door, and the string was set free ! 

All were ready to gallop off ; but the lion, although 
he growled fiercely on hearing the shot, still lay close. 

Swartboy now drew in the string ; and, having 
adjusted it to a fresh arrow, moved round so as to 
command a view of the window. In a few minutes the 
shaft had cut through the air and stuck deep into 
the yielding wood, and then the shutter swung round 
on its hinges and was drawn close. 

All three now dismounted ran silently and rapidly 
up, and secured both door and shutter with strong 
reins of raw-hide. 

Hurrah ! the lion was caged ! 


80 


CHAPTER XI. 


the: DEATH OF THE DION. 

Y ES, the fierce brute was fairly in the trap. The 
three hunters breathed freely. 

But how was the affair to end ? Both door and 
window-shutter fitted strongly and closely ; and, al- 
though it was possible to glance through the chinks, 
nothing could be seen inside — since, both being shut, 
it was quite dark within. 

Even could the lion have been seen, there was no 
hole through which to thrust the muzzle of a gun and 
fire at him. He was just as safe as his captors ; and, 
so long as the door remained closed, they could do him 
no more harm than he could them ! 

They might leave him shut up, and let him starve. 
He could live for a while upon what the jackals had 
left, with the carcasses of the two dogs, but that would 
not sustain him long, and in the end he would have to 
give up and miserably perish. After all, this did not 
seem so certain to Von Bloom and his companions. 
Finding that he was caged in earnest, the brute might 


Uhc ^ubMBoes 


attack the door, and with his sharp claws and teeth 
manage to cut his way through. 

But the angry field-cornet had not the slightest in- 
tention of leaving the lion such a chance. He was 
determined to destroy the beast before leaving the 
ground ; and he now set to thinking how this could 
be accomplished in the speediest and most effective 
manner. 

At first he thought of cutting a hole in the door with 
his knife, large enough to see through and admit the 
barrel of his roer. Should he not succeed in getting a 
view of the beast through that one, he would make an- 
other in the window-shutter. The two being on adja- 
cent sides of the house, would give him the command 
of the whole interior — for the former dwelling of the 
field-cornet comprised only a single apartment. Dur- 
ing his residence there, there had been two, thanks to 
a partition of zebra-skins ; but these had been re- 
moved, and all was now in one room. 

At first Von Bloom could think of no other plan to 
get at the enemy, and yet this one did not quite please 
him. It was safe enough, and if carried out, could 
only end in the death of the lion. 

A hole in both door and window-shutter would ena- 
ble them to fire at the brute as many bullets as they 
pleased, while they would be quite secure from his at- 
tack. But the time that would be required to cut these 
holes — that was why the plan did not please the field- 
82 


ZTbe Beatb of tbe Xton 


cornet. He and his party had no time to spare : their 
horses were weak with hunger, and a long journey lay 
before them ere a morsel could be obtained. No, — the 
time could not be spared for making a breach. Some 
more expeditious mode of attack must be devised. 

“ Father,” said Hendrik, “suppose we set the house 
on fire ? ’ ’ 

Good. The suggestion was a good one. Von Bloom 
cast his eyes up to the roof — a sloping structure with 
long eaves. It consisted of heavy beams of dry wood 
with rafters and laths, and all covered over with a 
thatch of rushes, a foot in thickness. It would make 
a tremendous blaze, and the smoke would be likely 
enough to suffocate the lion even before the blaze 
could get at him. 

The suggestion of Hendrik was adopted. They pre- 
pared to fire the house. 

There was still a large quantity of rubbish, — the 
collected firewood which the locusts had not devoured. 
This would enable them to carry out their purpose ; 
and all three immediately set about hauling it up, and 
piling it against the door. 

One might almost have fancied that the lion had 
fathomed their design ; for, although he had been for 
a long while quite silent, he now commenced a fresh 
spell of roaring. Perhaps the noise of the logs, strik- 
ing against the door outside, had set him at it ; and, 
finding himself thus shut up and baited, he had grown 
83 


XTbe ;©nsM602S 


impatient. What he had sought as a shelter had been 
turned into a trap , and he was now anxious to get out 
of it. 

This was evident by the demonstrations he began to 
make. They could hear him rushing about — passing 
from door to window — striking both with his huge 
paws, and causing them to shake upon their hinges — 
all the while uttering the most fiendish roars. 

Though not without some apprehensions, the three 
continued their work. They had their horses at hand, 
ready to be mounted in case the lion might make his 
way through the fire. In fact, they intended to take 
to their saddles — as soon as the fire should be fairly 
under way — and watch the conflagration from a safe 
distance. 

They had dragged up all the bush and dry wood, 
and had piled them in front of the door. Swartboy 
had taken out his flint and steel, and was about to 
strike, when a loud scratching was heard from the in- 
side, unlike anything that had yet reached their ears. 
It was the rattling of the lion’s claws against the wall, 
but it had an odd sound as if the animal was strug- 
gling violently ; at the same time his voice seemed 
hoarse and smothered, and appeared to come from a 
distance. 

What was the brute doing ? 

They stood for a moment, looking anxiously in each 
other’s faces. The scratching continued — the hoarse 
84 



THE LION IN A FIX 

















. 












TTbe Death of tbe %\on 


growling at intervals — but this ended at length ; and 
then came a snort, followed by a roar, so loud and clear 
that all three started in affright. They could not be- 
lieve that walls were between them and their danger- 
ous enemy ! 

Again echoed that horrid cry. Great Heaven ! It 
proceeded no longer from the inside — it came from 
above them ! 

Was the lion upon the roof? 

All three rushed backward a step or two, and 
looked up. A sight was before them that rendered 
them almost speechless with surprise and terror. 

Above the funnel of the chimney appeared the head 
of the lion ; his glaring yellow eyes and white teeth 
showing more fearful from contrast with the black soot 
that begrimed him. He was dragging his body up. 
One foot was already above the capstone ; and with 
this and his teeth he was widening the aperture 
around him. 

It was a terrible sight to behold — at least to those 
below. 

As already stated, they were alarmed ; and would 
have taken to their horses, had they not perceived that 
the animal had stuck fast ! 

It was evident that this was the case, but it was 
equally evident that in a few moments he would suc- 
ceed in clearing himself from the chimney. His teeth 
and claws were hard at work, and the stones and mor- 
85 


Zhc 


tar were flying in all directions. The funnel would 
soon be down below his broad chest, and then 

Von Bloom did not stay to think what then. He 
and Hendrik, guns in hand, ran up near the bottom of 
the wall. The chimney was but a score of feet in 
height ; the long roer was pointed upward, reaching 
nearly half that distance. The yager was also aimed. 
Both cracked together. The lion’s eyes suddenly 
closed, his head shook convulsively, his paw dropped 
loose over the capstone, his jaws fell open, and blood 
trickled down his tongue. In a few moments he w r as 
dead ! 

This was apparent to every one. But Swartboy 
was not satisfied, until he had discharged about a score 
of his arrows at the head of the animal, causing it to 
assume the appearance of a porcupine. 

So tightly had the huge beast wedged himself, that 
even after death he still remained in his singular 
situation. 

Under other circumstances he would have been 
dragged down for the sake of his skin. But there was 
no time to spare for skinning him ; and without fur- 
ther delay, Von Bloom and his companions mounted 
their horses and rode ofiF. 


86 


CHAPTER XII. 


A TAI^K ABOUT UONS. 



S the}^ rode back they conversed about lions, 


± to beguile the time. All of them knew some- 
thing about these animals ; but Swartboy, who had 
been born and brought up in the bush, in the very 
midst of their haunts as it were, of course was well 
acquainted with their habits — aye, far better than 
Monsieur Buffon himself. 

To describe the personal appearance of a lion would 
be to waste words. Every one of my readers must 
know the lion by sight, either from having seen one in 
a zoological collection, or the stuffed skin of one in a 
museum. Every one knows the form of the animal, 
and his great shaggy main. Every one knows, more- 
over, that the lioness is without this appendage, and 
in shape and size differs considerabfy from the male. 

Though there are not two species of lions, there are 
what are termed varieties , but these differ very little 
from each other — far less than the varieties of most 
other animals. 

There are seven acknowledged varieties. The Bar- 




bary lion, the lion of Senegal, the Indian lion, the Per- 
sian, the yellow Cape, the black Cape, and the maneless 
lion. 

The difference among these animals is not so great, 
but that at a glance any one may tell they were all of 
one species and kind. The Persian variety is rather 
smaller than the others ; the Barbary is of darker 
brown and heavily maned ; the lion of Senegal is of 
light shining yellow colour, and thinly maned ; while 
the maneless lion, as its name imports, is without this 
appendage. The existence of the last species is doubted 
by some naturalists. It is said to be found in Syria. 

The two Cape lions differ principally in the colour 
of the mane. In the one it is black or dark brown — in 
the other of a tawny yellow, like the rest of the body. 

Of all lions, those of South Africa are perhaps the 
largest, and the black variety the most fierce and 
dangerous. 

Tions inhabit the whole continent of Africa, and 
the southern countries of Asia. They were once com- 
mon in parts of Europe, where they exist no longer. 
There are no lions in America. The animal known 
in Spanish- American countries as the lion ( leon ) is the 
cougar or puma (Felts concolor)', which is not one-third 
the lion’s size, and resembles the king of beasts only in 
being of the same tawny colour. The puma is not 
unlike a lion’s cub six months old. 

Africa is peculiarly the country of the lion. He is 
88 


B TTalfe about Xtons 


found throughout the whole extent of that continent 
— excepting of course a few thickly inhabited spots, 
from which he has been expelled by man. 

The lion has been called the “king of the forest.” 
This appears to be a misnomer. He is not properly 
a forest animal. He cannot climb trees, and therefore 
in the forest would less easily procure his food than 
in the open plain. The panther, the leopard, and the 
jaguar, are all tree-climbers. They can follow the 
bird to its roost, and the monkey to its perch. The 
forest is their appropriate home. They are forest 
animals. Not so the lion. It is upon the open plains 
— where the great ruminants love to roam, and among 
the low bushy thickets that skirt them, that the lion 
affects to dwell. 

He lives upon flesh, — the flesh of many kinds of 
animals, though he has his favorites, according to the 
country in which he is found. He kills these animals 
for himself. The story of the jackal being his “pro- 
vider,” — killing them for him, — is not true. More 
frequently he himself provides the skulking jackals 
with a meal. Hence their being often seen in his 
company — which they keep, in order to pick up his 
“ crumbs.” 

The lion “butchers” for himself, though he will 
not object to have it done for him ; and will take away 
their game from wolf, jackal, or hyena — from the 
hunter if he can. 


89 


Ube Busb^ops 


The lion is not a fast runner — none of the true 
felidcz are. Nearly all the ruminant animals can out- 
run him. How, then, does he capture them ? 

By stratagem, by the suddenness of his attack, and 
by the length and velocity of his bound. He lies 
in wait, or steals upon them. He springs from his 
crouching place. His peculiar anatomical structure 
enables him to spring to an immense distance — in 
fact, to an almost incredible distance. Sixteen paces 
have been alleged by writers, who say they were eye- 
witnesses, and carefully measured the leap ! 

Should he fail to capture his prey at the first bound, 
the lion follows it no farther, but turns and trots away 
in an opposite direction. 

Sometimes, however, the intended victim tempts him 
to a second spring, and even to a third ; but failing 
then, he is sure to give up the pursuit. 

The lion is not gregarious, although as many as ten or 
a dozen are often seen together. They hunt in company 
at times, and drive the game towards one another ! 

They attack and destroy all other species of animals 
that inhabit the country around them — even the strong 
heavy rhinoceros is not feared by them, though the 
latter frequently foils and conquers them. Young 
elephants sometimes become their prey. The fierce 
buffalo, the giraffe, the oryx, the huge eland, and the 
eccentric gnoo, all have to succumb to their superior 
strength and armature. 


90 


B TTalk about Xlons 


But they are not universally victorious over these 
animals. Sometimes they are vanquished by one or 
other of them, and in turn become victims. Some- 
times both combatants leave their bodies upon the 
scene of the struggle. 

The lion is not hunted as a profession. His spoils 
are worthless. His skin sells for but little, and he 
yields no other trophy of any value. As hunting him 
is attended with great danger, and the hunter, as 
already stated, may avoid him if he wishes, but few 
lions would be destroyed, were it not for a certain 
offensive habit to which they are addicted — that of 
robbing the vee-boor of his horses and his cattle. 
This brings a new passion into play, — the vengeance 
of the farmer ; and with such a motive to urge on the 
hunt, the lion in some parts is chased with great zeal 
and assiduity. 

But where there are no cattle-farms, no such motive 
exists ; and there but little interest is felt in the 
chase of this animal. Nay, what is still stranger : the 
Bushmen and other poor wandering tribes do not kill 
the lion at all, or very seldom. They do not regard 
him with feelings of hostility. The lion acts towards 
them as a “ provider ’ ’ ! 

Hendrik, who had heard of this, asked Swartboy 
if it was true. 

The Bushman answered at once in the affirmative. 
His people, he said, were in the habit of watching 
91 


XTbe :©usMBops 


the lion, or following his spoor, until they came upon 
either himself or the quarry he had killed. Sometimes 
the vultures guided them to it. When the “ tao ” 
chanced to be on the spot, or had not yet finished his 
meal, his trackers would wait, until he had taken his 
departure, after which they would steal up and appro- 
priate what remained of the spoil. Often this would 
be the half, or perhaps three parts of some large 
animal, which they might have found a difficulty in 
killing for themselves. 

Knowing the lion will rarely attack them, the 
Bushmen are not much afraid of these animals. On 
the contrary, they rather rejoice at seeing them nu- 
merous in their district, as they are then provided with 
hunters able to furnish them with food ! 


92 


CHAPTER XIII. 


THE TRAVELERS BENIGHTED. 

O UR travellers would have talked much more 
about lions, but for the condition of their 
horses. This made them feel uneasy. With the ex- 
ception of a few hours grazing, the poor brutes had 
been without food since the appearance of the locusts. 
Horses do not travel well upon soft grass, and of 
course they were now suffering severely. 

It would be far in the night before the horsemen 
could reach the camp — although they were pushing on 
as fast as the horses could travel. 

It was quite dark when they arrived at the spot 
where they had halted the previous evening. In fact, 
it was very dark. Neither moon nor stars were to be 
seen in the sky ; and thick black clouds covered the 
whole canopy of the heavens. It looked as though a 
rain-storm might be expected — still no rain had as yet 
fallen. 

It was the intention of the travellers to halt at this 
place, and let their horses graze a while. With this 
view they all dismounted ; but, after trying one or two 
places, they could find no grass ! 

93 


Qhe 3Susb*£ogs 


This appeared strange, as they had certainly ob- 
served grass at that very spot the day before. Now 
there was none ! 

The horses put their noses to the ground, but raised 
them up again, snorting as they did so, and evidently 
disappointed. They were hungry enough to have 
eaten grass had there been any, for they eagerly 
snatched at the leaves of the bushes as they passed 
along ! 

Had the locusts been there also ? No. The mimosa- 
bushes still retained their delicate foliage, which would 
not have been the case had the locusts visited the 
spot. 

Our travellers were astonished that there was no 
grass. Surely there was some the day before ? Had 
they got upon a new track ? 

The darkness prevented them from having a view 
of the ground ; yet Von Bloom could not be mistaken 
about the route — having travelled it four times al- 
ready. Though he could not see the surface, every 
now and again he caught a glimpse of some tree or 
bush, which he had marked in his former journeys, 
and these assured him they were still upon the right 
track. 

Surprised at the absence of grass where they had so 
lately observed it, they would have examined the sur- 
face more carefully ; but they were anxious to push on 
to the spring, and at length gave up the idea of halt- 
94 


Uhc ^Travellers JBenlgbteb 


ing. The water in their gourds had been used up long 
before this ; and both they and their horses were once 
more suffering from thirst. 

Besides, Von Bloom was not without some anxiety 
about the children at the wagon. He had been sepa- 
rated from them now a full day and a half, and many 
a change might take place — many a danger might arise 
in that time. In fact, he began to blame himself for 
having left them alone. It would have been better to 
have let his cattle perish. So thought he now. A 
presentiment that all was not right was gradually form- 
ing in his mind ; and he grew more anxious to proceed 
as he reflected. 

They rode on in silence. It was only on Hendrik 
expressing a doubt about the way, that the conversa- 
tion recommenced. Swartboy also thought they were 
taking a wrong course. 

At first Von Bloom assured them they were right ; 
but after going a little farther, he admitted that he was 
in doubt ; and then, after another half-mile’s travelling, 
he declared that he had lost the track. He could no 
longer recognise any one of the marks or bearings he 
had taken. 

The proper thing to be done under these circum- 
stances was to leave the horses to themselves ; and 
this all three well knew. But the animals were suffer- 
ing the pangs of hunger, and when left to themselves, 
would not journey forward, but rushed up to the mi- 
95 


Ube JSusb^Boss 


mosa-bushes, and eagerly commenced devouring their 
leaves. 

The consequence was, that their riders were obliged 
to keep them going with whip and spur ; and in that 
way there was no certainty of the horses taking the 
right direction. 

After several hours’ advancing, all the while in a 
state of suspense, and as yet no appearance of either 
wagon or camp-fire, the travellers resolved upon com- 
ing to a halt. It was of no use going forward. They 
believed they could not be far from the camp ; but 
they were now as likely to be riding from as towards 
it ; and they concluded at length, that it would be 
wiser to remain where they were until the day 
broke. 

They all dismounted therefore, and fastened their 
horses to the bushes — so that the animals could browse 
upon the leaves till morning — which could not now 
be very far off. They rolled themselves up in their 
karosses, and lay down upon the earth. 

Hendrik and Swartboy were soon asleep. Von 
Bloom would have slept too, for he was tired enough ; 
but the heart of the father was too full of anxiety to 
allow repose to his eyes, and he lay awake watching 
for the dawn. 

It came at length, and at the first light his eyes 
swept the surface of the surrounding country. The 
party had by chance halted on an eminence that com- 
96 


Zhc ^Travellers IfBeruofotefc 


manded a good view for miles on each side, but the 
field- comet had not glanced half around the circle, 
when an object came before his eyes that brought 
gladness to his heart. It was the white tent of the 
wagon ! 

The joyful exclamation he uttered awoke the sleep- 
ers, who immediately sprang to their feet ; and all 
three stood gazing at the welcome sight. 

As they continued to gaze, their joy gradually gave 
place to feelings of surprise. Was it their wagon, after 
all? 

It certainly looked like theirs ; but it was a full half- 
mile off, and at such a distance one wagon would look 
just like another. But what led them to doubt its 
being theirs? It was the appearance of the place in 
which they saw it. Surely it was not the same place in 
which they had outspanned ! 

Theirs had been left in an oblong valley between 
two gentle ridges — in such a valley was this one stand- 
ing. Near a pool formed by a spring — here, too, was 
the same, for they could perceive the water shining. 
But in all other respects the situation was different. 
The surface of the valley in which their wagon had 
been left was covered, both sides and bottom, with a 
verdant carpet of grass ; whereas the one now before 
their eyes was brown and bare ! Not a blade of grass 
was to be seen — the trees seeming to be the only things 
that had any verdure. Even the low bushes appeared 


Ube J6us[>Bo^s 


to be destitute of leaves ! The scene had no resem- 
blance whatever to that where they had outspanned. 
It must be the camp of some other travellers, thought 
they. 

They had fully arrived at this conclusion, when 
Swartboy, whose eyes had been rolling about every- 
where, now rested upon the ground at his feet. After 
a moment’s observation — which the increasing light 
now enabled him to make — he turned suddenly to the 
others, and directed their attention to the surface of 
the plain. This they saw was covered with tracks, as 
if a thousand hoofs had passed over it. In fact, it pre- 
sented the appearance of a vast sheep-pen ; so vast, 
that as far as their sight extended, they beheld the 
same tracked and trampled appearance ! 

What could this mean ? Hendrik did not know. 
Von Bloom was in doubt. Swartboy could tell at the 
first glance. It was no new sight to him. 

“ All right, baas,” he said, looking up in his master’s 
face. “ Da’s da ole wagon ! — da same spring an vley 
— da same place — dar hab been um trek-boken ! ” 

“A trek-boken !” cried Von Bloom and Hendrik, 
in a breath. 

“ Ya, baas — a mighty big one too ; das de spoor of 
dem antelope — See ! ’ ’ 

Von Bloom now comprehended all. The bareness 
of the country, the absence of the leaves on the lower 
bushes, the millions of small hoof-tracks, all were now 




98 


TTbe Travellers Benlgbteb 


explained. A migration of the springbok antelope, a 
“ trek-boken,” had swept over the spot. That it was 
that had caused such a mighty change. The wagon 
they saw was theirs, after all. 

They lost no time, but catching their horses, bridled 
them, and rode rapidly down the hill. 

Though somewhat relieved at seeing the wagon, 
Von Bloom was still apprehensive. 

As they approached, they perceived the two horses 
standing beside it, and tied to the wheels, the cow also 
was there — but neither goats nor sheep were in the 
neighbourhood. 

There was a fire burning in the rear of the hind- 
wheels, and a dark mass underneath the wagon, but 
no human form could be observed. 

The hearts of the horsemen beat loudly as they 
advanced. Their eyes were bent earnestly upon the 
wagon. They felt keen anxiety. 

They had got within three hundred yards, and still 
no one stirred — no human form made its appearance. 
Von Bloom and Hendrik now suffered intensely. 

At this moment the two horses by the wagon neighed 
loudly ; the dark mass under the wagon moved, rolled 
outward, rose up, and stood erect. To tty was recog- 
nised ! 

And now the “after-clap” of the wagon was hur- 
riedly drawn aside, and three young faces were seen 
peeping forth. 


99 


Zhc 


A shout of joy burst from the horsemen, and the 
next moment little Jan and Triiey leaped out from the 
cap-tent into the arms of their father — while the mutual 
congratulations of Hans and Hendrik, Swartboy and 
To tty, produced for some moments a scene of joyful 
confusion quite indescribable. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE “ TREK-BOKEN.” 

T HOSE who remained by the camp had had 
their adventures too ; and their tale was by no 
means a merry one, for it disclosed the unpleasant fact, 
that the sheep and goats were all lost. The flock had 
been carried off, in a most singular manner ; and there 
was but little hope of their ever being seen again. 
Hans began this tale : — 

“ Nothing unusual occurred on the day you left us. 
I was busy all the afternoon in cutting ‘ wait-a-bit ’ 
thorns for a kraal. Totty helped me to drag them up, 
while Jan and Triiey looked after the flock. The ani- 
mals did not stray out of the valley here, as the grass 
was good, and they had had enough of trotting lately. 

“ Well — Totty and I got the kraal, as you see, all 
ready. So, when night came, we drove the flock in ; 
and, after milking the cow and getting our supper, we 
all went to bed. We were precious tired, and all of 
us slept soundly throughout the night without being 
disturbed. Both jackals and hyenas came around, 
but we knew they would not break into that kraal.” 


IOI 


TLhc BusMSops 


Hans pointed to the circular enclosure of thorn -bushes 
that had been well constructed. 

He then proceeded with his narration : — 

“ In the morning we found everything right. Totty 
again milked the cow ; and we had breakfast. The 
flock was let out upon the grass, and so were the cow 
and the two horses. 

“ Just about midday I began to think what we were 
to have for dinner, for the breakfast had cleared up 
everything. I did not like to kill another sheep, if it 
could be helped. So bidding Jan and Triiey stay close 
by the wagon, and leaving Totty to look after the 
flock, I took my gun and started off in search of game. 
I took no horse, for I thought I saw springboks out on 
the plain ; and I would stalk them better a-foot. 

“Sure enough, there were springboks. When I 
got out of the valley here, and had a better view, I 
saw what astonished me, I can assure you. 

“ I could scarce credit my eyes. The whole plain, 
towards the west, appeared to be one vast crowd of 
animals ; and by their bright yellow sides, and the 
snow-white hair on their rumps, I knew they were 
springboks. They were all in motion, some browsing 
along, while hundreds of them were constantly bound- 
ing up into the air full ten feet high, and leaping a-top 
of each other. I assure you all it was one of the 
strangest sights I ever beheld, and one of the pleasant- 
est too ; for I knew that the creatures that covered the 


102 


XTbe " ZTreft^JSoften ” 


plain, instead of being fierce wild beasts, were nothing 
but graceful and beautiful little gazelles. 

“ My first thought was to get near them, and have 
a shot ; and I was about to start off over the plain, 
when I perceived that the antelopes were coming 
towards me. I saw that they were approaching with 
considerable rapidity ; and if I only remained where I 
was, they would save me the trouble of stalking in 
upon them. I lay down behind a bush and waited. 

“ I had not very long to wait. In less than a quar- 
ter of an hour the foremost of the herd drew near, and 
in five minutes more a score of them were within shot. 

“ I did not fire for some time. I knew they would 
come still nearer ; and I lay watching the motions of 
those pretty creatures. I took notice of their light 
handsome forms, their smooth slender limbs, their 
cinnamon- coloured backs, and white bellies, with the 
band of chestnut along each side. I looked at the lyre- 
shaped horns of the bucks, and above all, at the singu- 
lar flaps on their croup, that unfolded each time that 
they leaped up, displaying a profusion of long silky 
hair, as white as snow itself. 

“ All these points I noticed, and at length, tired of 
admiring them, I singled out a fine-looking doe — for I 
was thinking of my dinner, and knew that doe-venison 
was the most palatable. 

“ After aiming carefully, I fired. The doe fell, but, 
to my astonishment, the others did not run off. A few 

103 


TTbe 


of the foremost only galloped back a bit, or bounded 
up into the air ; but they again set to browsing quite 
unconcerned, and the main body advanced as before ! 

“ I loaded as quickly as I could, and brought down 
another, — this time a buck — but as before without 
frightening the rest ! 

‘ ‘ I proceeded to load for the third time ; but before 
I had finished, the front ranks had passed on both 
sides of me, and I found myself in the midst of the 
herd ! 

“ I saw no need for covering myself any longer 
behind the bush, but rose to my knees, and, firing at 
the nearest, brought it down also. Its comrades did 
not pause, but ran over its body in thousands ! 

“ I loaded again, and stood right up on my feet. 

“ Now for the first time it occurred to me to reflect 
on the strange conduct of the springboks ; for, instead 
of making off at my appearance, they only bounded a 
little to one side, and then kept on their course. They 
seemed possessed by a species of infatuation. I re- 
member hearing that such was their way when upon 
one of their migrations, or ‘ trek-bokens. ’ This, then, 
thought I, must be a ‘ trek-boken.’ 

“ I was soon convinced of this, for the herd every 
moment grew thicker and thicker around me, until at 
length they became so crowded, that I began to feel 
very singularly situated. Not that I was afraid of 
the creatures, as they made no demonstration of using 
104 


Ube “XLv eteJSoben" 


their horns upon me. On the contrary, they did all 
they could to get out of my way. But the nearest 
only were alarmed ; and, as my presence in no way 
terrified those that were an hundred yards off, the 
latter made no attempt to give ground. Of course the 
nearest ones could only get a few paces from me, by 
pushing the others closer, or springing up over their 
backs — so that with the ones thus constantly bounding 
up into the air there was all the time a ring around me 
two deep ! 

‘ ‘ I cannot describe the strange feelings I had in 
this unusual situation, or how long I might have kept 
my place. Perhaps I might have loaded and fired 
away for some time, but just at the moment the sheep 
came into my mind. 

“ They ’ll be carried away, thought I. I had heard 
that such a thing was common enough. 

‘ ‘ I saw that the antelopes were heading towards the 
valley — the foremost were already into it, and would 
soon be on the spot, where I had just seen our little 
flock feeding ! 

“ In hopes of yet heading the springboks, and driv- 
ing the sheep into the kraal, before the former crowded 
on them, I started towards the valley. But, to my 
chagrin, I could get no faster than the herd was 
going ! 

“As I approached the creatures, to make my way 
through their mass, they leaped about and sprang over 
105 


XTbe Busb^Bo^s 


one another, but could not for their lives open a way 
for me as fast as I wanted one. I was so near some of 
them that I could have knocked them down with my 
gun ! 

“ I commenced hallooing, and, brandishing the gun 
about, I was making a lane more rapidly, when I per- 
ceived in front what appeared to be a large open space. 
I pushed forward for this, but the nearer I came to its 
border the more densely I found the creatures packed. 
I could only see that it was an open space by leaping 
up. I did not know what was causing it. I did not 
stay to reflect. I only wished to get forward as rapidly 
as possible, thinking about our flock. 

“ I continued to clear my way, and at length found 
myself in the position I had coveted ; while the lane I 
had made, in getting there, closed instantaneously be- 
hind me. I was about to rush on and take advantage 
of the bit of clear ground, when, what should I see in 
the centre, and directly before me, but a great yellow 
lion ! 

“ That accounted for the break in the herd. Had I 
known what had been causing it, I should have fought 
my way in any other direction but that ; but there was 
I, out in the open ground, the lion not ten paces from 
me, and a fence of springboks two deep around both 
of us ! 

“ I need not say I was frightened, and badly too. 
I did not for some moments know how to act. My gun 
106 


Ube t4 GxcM & often 


was still loaded — for, after thinking of saving our little 
flock, I did not care to empty it at the antelopes. I 
could get one, thought I, at any time, when I had 
secured the sheep in the kraal. The piece, therefore, 
was loaded and with bullets. 

“ Should I take aim at the lion, and fire? I asked 
myself this question, and was just on the point of de- 
ciding in the affirmative, when I reflected that it would 
be imprudent. I observed that the lion, whose back 
was turned to me, had either not seen, or as yet took 
no notice of me. Should. I only wound him — and 
from the position he was in I was not likely to do 
more — how then ? I would most likely be torn to 
pieces. 

‘ ‘ These were my reflections, all of which scarce 
occupied a second of time. I was about to ‘ back out ’ 
or back in among the springboks, and make my way 
in some other direction, and had even got near the 
edge, when, in looking over my shoulder, I saw the 
lion suddenly halt and turn round. I halted too, know- 
ing that to be the safest plan ; and, as I did so, I 
glanced back at the lion’s eyes. 

‘ ‘ To my relief, I saw they were not upon me. He 
seemed to have taken some fancy in his head. His 
appetite, perhaps, had returned ; for the next moment 
he ran a few yards, and then, rising with a terrific 
bound, launched himself far into the herd, and came 
down right upon the back of one of the antelopes ! 

107 


Uh c JSusb^JBoss 


The others sprang right and left, and a new space was 
soon opened around him. 

“ He was now nearer than ever to where I stood, 
and I could see him distinctly crouched over his victim. 
His claws held its quivering body, and his long teeth 
grasped the poor creature by the neck. But, with the 
exception of his tail, he was making not the slightest 
motion, and that vibrated gently from side to side, just 
as a kitten that had caught a tiny mouse. I could see, 
too, that his eyes were close shut, as though he were 
asleep ! 

“ Now I had heard that under such circumstances the 
lion may be approached without much danger. Not 
that I wished to go any nearer — for I was near enough 
for my gun — but it was this recollection, I believe, that 
put me in the notion of firing. At all events, some- 
thing whispered me I would succeed, and I could not 
resist trying. 

“The broad blind jaw of the brute was fair before 
me. I took aim, and pulled trigger ; but, instead of 
waiting to see the effect of my shot, I ran right off in 
an opposite direction. 

“ I did not halt till I had put several acres of ante- 
lopes between myself and the place where I had last 
stood; and then I made the best of my way to the wagon. 

“ Tong before I had reached it, I could see that Jan, 
and Triiey, and Totty, were safe under the tent. That 
gave me pleasure, but I also saw that the sheep and 
108 


Ube “TTrcl ^Bofcen” 


goats had got mixed up with the springboks, and were 
moving off with them as if they belonged to the same 
species ! I fear they are all lost. ’ ’ 

“ And the lion ? ” inquired Hendrik. 

“Yonder he lies ! ” answered Hans, modestly point- 
ing to a yellow mass out upon the plain, over which the 
vultures were already beginning to hover. “Yonder 
he lies, you could hardly have done it better yourself, 
brother Hendrik.” 

As Hans said this, he smiled in such a manner as to 
show, that he had no idea of making a boast of his 
achievements. 

Hendrik was loud in acknowledging that it was a 
most splendid feat, and also in regretting that he had 
not been on the ground to witness the wonderful migra- 
tion of the springboks. 

But there was no time for much idle talk. Von 
Bloom and his party were in a very unpleasant situa- 
tion. His flocks were all gone. The cow and horses 
alone remained ; and for these not a blade of grass had 
been left by the antelopes. Upon what were they to 
be fed ? 

To follow the spoor of the migratory springboks 
with the hope of recovering their flock would be quite 
useless. Swartboy assured them of this. The poor 
animals might be carried hundreds of miles before they 
could separate themselves from the great herd, or bring 
their involuntary journey to an end ! 

109 


XTbe JBusMSops 


The horses could travel but little farther. There 
was nought to feed them on but the leaves of the 
mimosas, and this was but poor food for hungry horses. 
It would be fortunate if they could be kept alive until 
they should reach some pasture ; and where now was 
pasture to be found ? Locusts and antelopes between 
them seemed to have turned all Africa into a desert ! 

The field-cornet soon formed his resolution. He 
would remain there for the night, and early on the 
morrow set out in search of some other spring. 

Fortunately Hans had not neglected to secure a 
brace of the springboks ; and their fat venison now 
came into general use. A roast of that, and a drink 
of cool water from the spring, soon refreshed the three 
wearied travellers. 

The horses were let loose among the mimosa-trees, 
and allowed to shift for themselves ; and although 
under ordinary circumstances they would have ‘ ‘ turned 
up their noses 1 ’ at such food as mimosa-leaves, they 
now turned them up in a different sense, and cleared 
the thorny branches like so many giraffes. 

Some naturalist of the “Buffon” school has stated 
that neither wolf, fox, hyena, nor jackal will eat the 
carcass of a lion, — that their fear of the royal despot 
continues even after his death. 

The field-cornet and his family had proof of the 
want of truth in this assertion. Before many hours 
both jackals and hyenas attacked the carcass of the 


no 


ttbe “ZvefaXohen” 


king of beasts, and in a very short while there was not 
a morsel of him there but his bones. Even his tawny 
skin was swallowed by these ravenous creatures, and 
many of the bones broken by the strong jaws of the 
hyenas. The respect which these brutes entertain for 
the lion ends with his life. When dead, he is eaten 
by them with as much audacity as if he were the 
meanest of animals. 


hi 


CHAPTER XV. 


SPOORING FOR A SPRING. 

ON BROOM was in the saddle at an early hour. 



V Swartboy accompanied him, while all the others 
remained by the wagon to await his return. They 
took with them the two horses that had remained by 
the wagon, as these were fresher than the others. 

They rode nearly due westward. They were induced 
to take this direction by observing that the springboks 
had come from the north. By heading westward they 
believed they would sooner get beyond the wasted 
territory. 

To their great satisfaction an hour’s travelling car- 
ried them clear of the track of the antelope migration ; 
and although they found no water, there was excellent 
grass. 

The field-cornet now sent Swartboy back for the 
other horses and the cow, pointing out a place where 
he should bring them to graze, while he himself con- 
tinued on in search of water. 

After travelling some miles farther, Von Bloom per- 
ceived to the north of him a long line of cliff rising 


112 


Spooring for a Spring 


directly up from the plain, and running westward as 
far as he could see. Thinking that water would be 
more likely to be found near these cliffs, he turned his 
horse’s head towards them. As he approached nearer 
to their base, he was charmed with the beautiful 
scenery that began to open before his eyes. He passed 
through grassy plains of different sizes, separated from 
each other by copses of the delicate-leaved mimosa ; 
some of these forming large thickets, while others con- 
sisted of only a few low bushes. Towering high over 
the mimosas, grew many trees of gigantic size, and of 
a species Von Bloom had never seen before. They 
stood thinly upon the ground ; but each, with its vast 
leafy head, seemed a little forest of itself. 

The whole country around had a soft park-like ap- 
pearance, which contrasted well with the dark cliff 
that rose beyond — the latter stepping up from the 
plain by a precipice of several hundred feet in height, 
and seemingly as vertical as the walls of a house. 

The fine landscape was gratifying to the eyes of the 
traveller — such a fine country in the midst of so much 
barrenness ; for he knew that most of the surrounding 
region was little better than a wild karoo. The whole 
of it to the north for hundreds of miles was a famous 
desert — the desert of Kalihari — and these cliffs were a 
part of its southern border. The “vee-boor” would 
have been rejoiced at such a sight under other circum- 
stances. But what to him now were all these fine 
8 113 


Ube BusbsOBops 


pastures— now that he was no longer able to stock 
them ? 

Notwithstanding the beauty of the scene, his reflec- 
tions were painful. 

But he did not give way to despair. His present 
troubles were sufficiently grievous to prevent him from 
dwelling much on the future. His first care was to 
find a place where his horses might be recruited ; for 
without them he could no longer move anywhere — 
without them he would be helpless indeed. 

Water was the desired object. If water could not be 
found, all this beautiful park through which he was 
passing would be as valueless to him as the brown 
desert. 

Surely so lovely a landscape could not exist without 
that most essential element ! 

So thought the field-cornet ; and at the turning of 
every new grove his eyes wandered over the ground in 
search of it. 

“ Ho ! ” he joyfully exclaimed as a covey of large 
Namaqua partridges whirred up from his path. “A 
good sign that ; they are seldom far from water.’ ’ 

Shortly after, he saw a flock of beautiful pintados, or 
guinea-hens, running into a copse. This was a still 
further proof that water was nigh. But surest of all, 
on the top of a tall cameel-doorn tree, he next observed 
the brilliant plumage of a parrot. 


114 


Spooring for a Spring 


“ Now,” muttered he to himself, “ I must be very 
near to some spring or pool. * ’ 

He rode cheerfully forward, and after a little while 
arrived upon the crest of an elevated ridge. Here he 
halted to observe the flight of the birds. 

Presently he noticed a covey of partridges flying in 
a westerly direction, and shortly after, another covey 
going the same way. Both appeared to alight near a 
gigantic tree that grew in the plain about five hundred 
yards from the bottom of the cliffs. This tree stood 
apart from any of the others, and was by far the lar- 
gest Von Bloom had yet seen. 

As he remained gazing at its wonderful dimensions, 
he observed several pairs of parrots alighting upon it. 
These, after chattering a while among its branches, 
flew down upon the plain not far from its base. 

“Surely,” thought Von Bloom, “ there must be 
water there. I shall ride forward and see.” 

But his horse had scarcely waited for him to form 
this design. The animal had been already dragging 
upon the bridle ; and as soon as his head was turned 
in the direction of the tree, he started forward with 
outstretched neck, snorting as he rushed along. 

The rider, trusting to the instinct of his horse, sur- 
rendered up the bridle ; and in less than five minutes 
both horse and rider were drinking from the sweet wa- 
ter of a crystal fountain that gushed out within a dozen 
yards of the tree. 


XTbe JBusb^JBops 


The field-cornet would now have hastened back to 
the wagon ; but he thought that by allowing his horse 
to browse an hour or so upon the grass, he would 
make the return journey with more spirit, and in quite 
as good time. He, therefore, took off the bridle, gave 
the animal his liberty, while he stretched himself under 
the shade of the great tree. 

As he lay, he could not help admiring the wonderful 
production of nature that towered majestically above 
him. It was one of the largest trees he had ever be- 
held. It was of the kind known as the ‘ ‘ nwana ’ ’ 
tree, a species of ficus , with large sycamore-shaped 
leaves that grew thickly over its magnificent head. Its 
trunk was full twenty feet in diameter, rising to more 
than that height without a branch, and then spreading 
off into numerous limbs that stretched far out in a 
horizontal direction. Through the thick foliage Von 
Bloom could perceive shining egg-shaped fruits as 
large as cocoa-nuts ; and upon these the parrots and 
several other kinds of birds appeared to be feeding. 

Other trees of the same species stood out upon the 
plain at long distances apart ; and though they were 
all taller than the surrounding timber, none were so 
large or conspicuous as the one that grew by the spring. 

The field-cornet, as he enjoyed the cool shade which 
its umbrageous frondage afforded, could not help think- 
ing what an admirable spot it would be to build a kraal. 
The inmates of a dwelling placed beneath its friendly 
116 


Spooring for a Spring 


shelter, need never dread the fierce rays of the African 
sun ; even the rain could scarce penetrate its leafy 
canopy. In fact, its dense foliage almost constituted 
a roof itself. 

Had his cattle still remained to him, no doubt the 
vee-boor would have resolved at once to make this 
spot his future home. But, tempting as it was, what 
now could he do in such a place ? To him it would 
be only a wilderness. There was no species of indus- 
try he could follow in such a remote quarter. True, 
he might sustain himself and his family by hunting. 
He saw that game was plenteous all around. But that 
would be but a sorry existence, with no promise for 
the future. What would his children do hereafter? 
Were they to grow up with no other end than to be- 
come poor hunters — no better than the wild Bushmen ? 
No ! no ! no ! To make a home there would be out 
of the question. A few days to recruit his wearied 
horses, and then he would make a struggle and trek 
back to the settlements. 

But what after he had got back ? He knew not what 
then. His future was gloomy and uncertain. 

After indulging in such reflections for an hour or 
more, he bethought him that it was time to return to 
the camp ; and having caught and bridled his horse, 
he mounted and set forth. 

The animal, refreshed by the sweet grass and cool 
water, carried him briskly along ; and in less than two 


Ube J6usb=Bop5 


hours he came up with Swartboy and Hendrik where 
they were pasturing the horses. 

These were taken back to the wagon and harnessed 
in ; and then the great vehicle once more ‘‘treked ” 
across the plains. 

Before the sun had set, the long white cap-tent was 
gleaming under the leafy screen of the gigantic 
“ nwana.” 


118 


CHAPTER XVI. 


THE TERRIBLE “TSETSE.” 

HE verdant carpet that stretched away around 



them — the green leaves upon the trees — the 
flowers by the fountain — the crystal water in its bed — 
the black bold rocks towering up at a distance — all com- 
bined to make a lovely picture. The eyes of the way- 
farers were glad as they beheld it ; and while the wagon 
was outspanning, every one gave utterance to their 
delightful emotions. 

The place seemed to please every one. Hans loved 
its quiet and sylvan beauty. It was just such a place 
as he would choose to ramble in, book in hand, and 
dream away many a pleasant hour. Hendrik liked it 
much, because he had already observed what he termed 
* ‘ extensive spoor ’ ’ about the spot : in other words, he 
had noticed the tracks of many of Africa’s largest wild 
animals. 

Tittle Triiey was delighted to see so many beautiful 
flowers. There were bright scarlet geraniums, and 
starlike sweet-scented jessamines, and the gorgeous 
belladonna lily, with its large blossoms of rose-colour 
Ir 9 


Qhe ^6usb=JSo^5 


and white ; and there were not only plants in flower, 
but bushes, and even trees, covered with gaudy and 
sweetly perfumed blossoms. There was the “sugar- 
bush” ( Protea mellifera ), the most beautiful of its 
family, with its large cup-shaped corollas of pink, 
white, and green ; and there, too, was the “ silver- 
tree ” ( Leucodendron argenteum ), whose soft silvery 
leaves playing in the breeze, looked like a huge mass 
of silken flowers ; and there were the mimosas, covered 
with blossoms of golden yellow that filled the air with 
their strong and agreeable perfume. 

Rare forms of vegetation were around or near at 
hand : the arborescent aloes, with their tall flower- 
spikes of coral red, and euphorbias of many shapes ; 
and zamia , with its palm-like fronds ; and the soft- 
leaved Strelitzia regince. All these were observed in 
the neighbourhood of this new-discovered fountain. 

But what received little Triiey’s admiration more 
than any other was the beautiful blue water-lily (. Nym - 
pha ccerulea ), which is certainly one of the loveliest of 
Africa’s flowers. Close by the spring, but a little far- 
ther in the direction of the plain, was a vley, or pool — 
in fact, it might have been termed a small lake — and 
upon the quiet bosom of its water the sky-blue corollas 
lay sleeping in all their gorgeous beauty. 

Triiey, leading her little pet by a string, had gone 
down on the bank to look at them. She thought she 
could never cease gazing at such pretty things. 


120 


TTbe Tremble “TTsetse” 


“ I hope papa will stay here a long time,” she said 
to her companion, little Jan. 

“And I hope so too. Oh, Triiey, what a fine tree 
yon is ! Look ! nuts as big as my head, I declare. 
Bless me, sis ! how are we to knock some of them 
down ? ’ * 

And so the children conversed, both delighted with 
the new scenes around them. 

Although all the young people were inclined to be 
happy, yet they were checked in their expression of it, 
by observing that there was a cloud on the brow of 
their father. He had seated himself under the great 
tree, but his eyes were upon the ground, as though he 
were busy with painful reflections. All of them noticed 
this. 

His reflections were, indeed, painful — they could not 
well have been otherwise. There was but one course 
left for him — to return to the settlements, and begin life 
anew. But how to begin it ? What could he do ? 
His property all gone, he could only serve some of his 
richer neighbours ; and for one accustomed all his life 
to independence, this would be hard indeed. 

He looked towards his five horses, now eagerly 
cropping the luxuriant grass that grew under the 
shadow of the cliffs. When would they be ready to 
trek back again? In three or four days he might 
start. Fine animals, most of them were — they would 
carry the wagon lightly enough. 


121 


TLh e 36u5b=Bo^0 


So ran the reflections of the field-cornet. He little 
thought at the moment that those horses would never 
draw wagon more, nor any other vehicle. He little 
thought that those five noble brutes were doomed ! 

Yet so it was. In less than a week from that time, 
the jackals and hyenas were quarrelling over their 
bones. Even at that very moment, while he watched 
them browsing, the poison was entering their veins, 
and their death-wounds were being inflicted. Alas ! 
alas'! another blow awaited Von Bloom. 

The field-cornet had noticed, now and again, that 
the horses seemed uneasy as they fed. At times they 
started suddenly, whisked their long tails, and rubbed 
their heads against the bushes. 

“Some fly is troubling them,” thought he, and had 
no more uneasiness about the matter. 

It was just that — just a fly that was troubling them. 
Had Von Bloom known what that fly was, he would 
have felt a very different concern about his horses. 
Had he known the nature of that little fly, he would 
have rushed up with all his boys, caught the horses in 
the greatest hurry, and led them far away from those 
dark cliffs. But he knew not the “ tsetse ” fly. 

It still wanted some minutes of sunset, and the 
horses were permitted to browse freely, but Von Bloom 
observed that they were every moment getting more 
excited — now striking their hoofs upon the turf, — now 
running a length or two — and at intervals snorting an- 


122 


Ube Uerrtble “Usetse” 


grily. At the distance they were off— a quarter of a 
mile or so — Von Bloom could see nothing of what was 
disturbing them ; but their odd behaviour at length 
induced him to walk up to where they were. Hans and 
Hendrik went along with him. 

When they arrived near the spot, they were aston- 
ished at what they then beheld. Each horse seemed 
to be encompassed by a swarm of bees ! 

They saw, however, they were not bees, but insects 
somewhat smaller, of a brown colour, resembling gad- 
flies, and exceedingly active in their flight. Thousands 
of them hovered above each horse, and hundreds could 
be seen lighting upon the heads, necks, bodies, and 
legs of the animals, — in fact, all over them. They 
were evidently either biting or stinging them. No 
wonder the poor brutes were annoyed. 

Von Bloom suggested that they should drive the 
horses farther out into the plain, where these flies did 
not seem to haunt. He was only concerned about the 
annoyance which the horses received from them. Hen- 
drik also pitied their sufferings ; but Hans, alone of all 
the three, guessed at the truth. He had read of a fatal 
insect that frequented some districts in the interior of 
South Africa, and the first sight of these flies aroused 
his suspicions that it might be they. 

He communicated his thoughts to the others, who 
at once shared his alarm. 

“ Call Swartboy hither ! ” said Von Bloom. 


23 


Ube ^Busb^o^s 


The Bushman was called, and soon made his appear- 
ance, coming up from the spring. He had for the last 
hour been engaged in unpacking the wagon, and had 
taken no notice of the horses or the interest they were 
exciting. 

As soon, however, as he got near, and saw the 
winged swarm whirring around the horses, his small 
eyes opened to their widest extent, his thick lips fell, 
and his whole face yielded itself to an expression of 
amazement and alarm. 

“ What is it, Swart ? ’ ’ inquired his master. 

‘ ‘ Mein baas ! mein baas ! der duy vel um da — dar 
skellum is da ‘ tsetse ! ’ ” 

“ And what if it be the tsetse ? ” 

“ Mein baas ! — all dead — dead — ebery horse ! ” 
Swartboy then proceeded to explain, with a loud and 
continuous ‘ ‘ clicking , 5 ’ that the fly which they saw was 
fatal in its bite, that the horses would surely die — 
sooner or later, according to the number of stings they 
had already received ; but, from the swarm of insects 
around them, the Bushman had no doubt they had 
been badly stung and a single week would see all five 
of the horses dead. 

“ Wait, mein baas — morrow show.” 

And to-morrow did show ; for before twelve o’clock 
on the next day, the horses were swollen all over their 
bodies and about their heads. Their eyes were quite 
closed up ; they refused any longer to eat, but stag- 


124 



EACH HORSE SEEMED ENCOMPASSED WITH A SWARM OF BEES 



Ube ZTerrible “tsetse” 


gered blindly among the luxuriant grass, every now 
and then expressing the pain they felt by a low melan- 
choly whimpering. It was plain to every one they 
were going to die. 

Von Bloom tried bleeding, and various other reme- 
dies ; but to no purpose. There is no cure for the bite 
of the tsetse fly ! 


125 


CHAPTER XVII. 


THE EON G-HORN^D RHINOCEROS. 

REAT, indeed, was no\v the affliction of the 



field-cornet. Fortune seemed to be adverse in 


everything. Step by step he had been sinking for 
years, every year becoming poorer in worldly wealth. 
He had now reached the lowest point — poverty itself. 
He owned nothing whatever. His horses might be 
regarded as dead. The cow had escaped from the 
tsetse by avoiding the cliffs, and keeping out upon the 
plain ; and this animal now constituted his whole live- 
stock, — his whole property ! True, he still had his 
fine wagon ; but of what use would that be without 
either oxen or horses ? a wagon without a team ! 
Better a team without a wagon. 

What could he do ? How was he to escape from the 
position he was placed in ? To say the least, it was an 
awkward one — nearly two hundred miles from any 
civilised settlement, and no means of getting there, — 
no means except by walking ; and how were his chil- 
dren to walk two hundred miles ? Impossible ! 

Across desert tracks, exposed not only to terrible 


Uhc Xono^orneC) IRbinoceros 


fatigue, but to hunger, thirst, and fierce carnivorous 
animals. It appeared impossible that they could 
accomplish such a task. 

And what else was there to be done? asked the 
field-cornet of himself. Were they to remain there all 
their lives, subsisting precariously on game and roots ? 
Were his children to become “ Bush-boys,” — himself a 
Bushman ? 

With these reflections passing through his mind, no 
wonder that Von Bloom felt deeply afflicted. 

“ Merciful Heaven ! ” he exclaimed, as he sat with 
his head between his hands, ‘ ‘ what will become of me 
and mine ? ” 

Poor Von Bloom ! he had reached the lowest point 
of his fortunes. 

He had, in reality, reached the lowest point ; for on 
that very day, — even within that very hour — an inci- 
dent occurred, that not only gave relief to his afflicted 
spirit, but that promised to lay the foundation of future 
wealth and prosperity. In one hour from that time 
the prospects of the field-cornet had undergone a com- 
plete change, — in one hour from that time he was a 
happy man, and all around him were as happy as he ! 

You are impatient to hear how this change was ef- 
fected ? What little fairy had sprung out of the spring, 
or come down from the cliffs, to befriend the good field- 
cornet in his hour of misery ? You are impatient to 
hear ! Then you shall hear. 

127 


Ube 36u5f>JSo^s 


The sun was just going down. They were all seated 
under the great tree, and near a fire, upon which they 
had cooked their supper. There was no talking, no 
cheerful conversation, — for the children saw that their 
father was in trouble, and that kept them silent. Not 
a word passed between them, or only an occasional 
whisper. 

It was at this moment that Von Bloom gave utter- 
ance to his sad thoughts in words as above. 

As if seeking for an answer, his eyes were raised to 
heaven, and then wandered around the plain. All at 
once they became fixed upon a singular object that 
appeared at some distance off, and was just emerging 
from the bushes. 

It was an animal of some kind, and from its vast size 
Von Bloom and the others at first took it to be an ele- 
phant. None of them, except Swartboy, were accus- 
tomed to elephants in their wild state, — for, although 
these animals once inhabited the most southerly por- 
tion of Africa, they have long since deserted the settled 
districts, and are now only to be found far beyond the 
frontier of the colony. But they knew that there were 
elephants in these parts — as they had already observed 
their tracks — and all now supposed the huge creature 
that was approaching must be one. 

Not all ; Swartboy was an exception. As soon as his 
eyes fell upon the animal he cried out, — 

“ Chukuroo — a chukuroo ! ” 

128 


Qhc Xong^lbornefc IRbtnoceros 


“A rhinoster, is it?” said Von Bloom, knowing 
that 4 4 chukuroo ’ ’ was the native name for the rhi- 
noceros, or 44 rhinoster,” as he called it in Dutch. 

“ Ya, baas,” replied Swartboy ; “and one o’ da big 
karles — da 4 kobaoba, ’ da long-horn white rhinoster. ’ ’ 

What Swartboy meant by this was that the animal 
in question was a large species of rhinoceros, known 
among the natives as the 44 kobaoba.” 

Now I dare say, young reader, you have been all 
your life under the impression that there was but one 
species of rhinoceros in the world — that is the rhino- 
ceros. Is it not so ? Yes. 

Well, permit me to inform you, that you have been 
under a wrong impression. There is quite a number 
of distinct species of this very singular animal. At 
least eight distinct kinds I know of ; and I do not hesi- 
tate to say that when the central parts of Africa have 
been fully explored, as well as South Asia and the 
Asiatic islands, nearly half as many more will be 
found to exist. 

In South Africa four distinct species are well known ; 
one in North Africa differs from all these ; while the 
large Indian rhinoceros bears but slight resemblance 
to any of them. A distinct species from any is the rhi- 
noceros of Sumatra, an inhabitant of that island ; and 
still another is the Java rhinoceros, found in the island 
of Java. Thus we have no less than eight kinds, all 
specifically differing from one another. 

129 


9 


Ube BusbsOBoES 


The best known in museums, zoological collections, 
and pictures, is perhaps the Indian animal. It is the 
one marked by the singular foldings of its skin, thickly 
embellished with protuberances or knobs, that give it 
a shieldlike appearance. This distinguishes it from 
the African species, all of which are without these 
knobs, though the hides of some are knotty or warty. 
The Abyssinian rhinoceros has also foldings of the 
skin, which approach it somewhat to the character 
of the Indian species. Both the Sumatra and Java 
kinds are small compared with their huge cousin, the 
Indian rhinoceros, which inhabits only continental 
India, Siam, and Cochin China. 

The Javan species more resembles the Indian, in 
having scutellse over the skin and being one-horned. 
It is, however, without the singular folds which char- 
acterise the latter. That of Sumatra has neither folds 
nor scutellae. Its skin has a slight covering of hair, 
and a pair of horns gives it some resemblance to the 
two-horned species of Africa. 

The natives of South Africa are acquainted with 
four distinct species of rhinoceros, to which they 
give distinct names ; and it may be remarked that 
this observation of species by native hunters is far 
more to be depended upon than the speculations of 
mere closet-naturalists, who draw their deductions 
from a tubercle, or the tooth, or a stuffed skin. If 
there be any value in a knowledge of animated na- 
130 


TO e 3Long*1bornefc IRbtnoceros 


ture, it is not to these we are indebted for that knowl- 
edge, but far oftener to the “rude hunters,” whom 
they affect to despise, and who, after all, have taught 
us pretty much all we know of the habits of animals. 
Such a “rude hunter” as Gordon Cumming, forex- 
ample, has done more to increase the knowledge of 
African zoology than a whole college full of ‘ ‘ specu- 
lating” savans. 

This same Gordon Cumming, who has been accused 
of exaggeration (but in my opinion very wrongfully 
accused), has written a very modest and truthful book, 
which tells you that there are four kinds of rhinoce- 
roses in Southern Africa ; and no man is likely to 
know better than he. 

These four kinds are known among the natives as 
the “borele,” the “keitloa,” the “muehocho,” and 
“ kobaoba.” The two first are “black rhinoceroses,” 
— that is, the general colour of their skin is dark — 
while the “muehocho” and “kobaoba” are white 
varieties, having the skin of a dingy whitish hue. 
The black rhinoceroses are much smaller — scarce 
half the size of the others, and they differ from them 
in the length and set of their horns, as well as in 
other particulars. 

The horns of the ‘ ‘ borele ’ ’ are placed — as in all rhino- 
ceroses, — upon a bony mass over the nostrils, — hence 
the word “ rhinoceros ” (p iv, the nose, uepaS, a horn). 

In the borele they stand erect, curving slightly 


XEbe JSusb^Bo^s 


backwards, and one behind the other. The anterior 
horn is the longer — rarely above eighteen inches in 
length — but it is often broken or rubbed shorter, and 
in no two individuals is there equality in this respect. 
The posterior horn in this species is only a sort of 
knob ; whereas in the “ keitloa,” or two-horned black 
rhinoceros, both horns are developed to a nearly equal 
length. 

In the ‘ ‘ muchocho ’ ’ and ‘ ‘ kobaoba, ’ ’ the after 
horns can hardly be said to exist, but the anterior 
one in both species far exceeds in length those of the 
borele and keitloa. In the muchocho it is frequently 
three feet in length, while the kobaoba is often seen 
with a horn four feet long, jutting out from the end 
of its ugly snout — a fearful weapon ! 

The horns of the two last do not curve back, but 
point forward ; and as both these carry their heads 
low down the long sharp spike is often borne hori- 
zontally. In the form and length of their neck, the 
set of their ears, and other respects, the black rhinoc- 
eroses differ materially from the white ones. In fact, 
their habits are quite unlike. The former feed chiefly 
on the leaves and twigs of thorns, such as the Acacia 
hormda , or “ wait-a-bits,” while the latter live upon 
grass. The former are of fiercer disposition — will 
attack man or any other animal on sight ; and even 
sometimes seem to grow angry with the bushes, 
charging upon them and breaking them to pieces ! 

132 


tTbe SLonc^lborneb IRbmoceros 


The white rhinoceroses, although fierce enough 
when wounded or provoked, are usually of pacific 
disposition, and will permit the hunter to pass with- 
out molestation. 

These become very fat, and make excellent eating. 
The flesh of no African animal is esteemed superior 
to the calf of the white rhinoceros, whereas the black 
varieties never grow fat, and their flesh is tough and 
unpalatable. 

The horns of all four are used by the natives for 
many purposes, being solid, of fine texture, and sus- 
ceptible of a high polish. Out of the longer horns 
the natives manufacture ‘ ‘ knobkerries ” (clubs), and 
loading-rods for their guns. The shorter ones afford 
material for mallets, drinking-cups, handles for small 
tools, and the like. In Abyssinia, and other parts of 
Northern Africa, where swords are in use, sword- 
hilts are made from the horns of the rhinoceros. 

The hide is also used for different purposes, among 
others for making the whips known as “jamboks,” 
though hippopotamus-hide is superior. 

The skin of the African rhinoceros, as already stated, 
is without the plaits, folds, and scutellse, that charac- 
terise its Asiatic congener, yet it is far from being a 
soft one. It is so thick and difficult to pierce, that a bul- 
let of ordinary lead will sometimes flatten upon it. To 
ensure its penetrating, the lead must be hardened with 
solder. 


133 


XTbe 3Bu5l>JSo^5 


The rhinoceros, though not a water animal, like 
the hippopotamus, is nevertheless fond of that element, 
and is rarely found at a great distance from it. All 
four kinds love to lie and wallow in mud, just as hogs 
in a summer’s day ; and they are usually seen coated 
all over with this substance. During the day they 
may be observed lying down or standing under the 
shade of some thick mimosa-tree, either asleep or in a 
state of easy indolence ; and it is during the night 
that they wander about in search of food and water. 
If approached from the lee side they can easily be got 
at, as their small sparkling eyes do not serve them 
well. On the contrary, if the hunter go to windward, 
they will scent him at a great distance, as their sense 
of smell is most acute. If their eyes were only as 
keen as their nostrils, it would be a dangerous game 
to attack them, for they can run with sufficient rapidity 
to overtake a horse in the first charge. 

In charging and running, the black variety far excels 
the white. They are easily avoided, however, by the 
hunter springing quickly to one side, and letting them 
rush blindly on. 

The black rhinoceros is about six feet high at the 
shoulder, and full thirteen in length ; while the white 
kinds are far larger. The “kobaoba” is full seven 
feet high, and fourteen in length ! 

No wonder that an animal of these extraordinary 
dimensions was at first sight taken for the elephant. 
134 


Uhc Xona*1bornet> IRbtnoceros 


In fact, the kobaoba rhinoceros is the quadruped next 
to the elephant in size ; and with his great muzzle — 
full eighteen inches broad — his long clumsy head, his 
vast ponderous body, this animal impresses one with 
an idea of strength and massive grandeur as great, 
and some say greater than the elephant himself. He 
looks, indeed, like a caricature of the elephant. It 
was not such a bad mistake, then, when our people by 
the wagon took the ‘ ‘ kobaoba ’ ’ for the ‘ ‘ mighty 
elephant. ’ ’ 

Swartboy, however, set them all right by declaring 
that the animal they saw was the white rhinoceros. 


135 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


A HEAVY COMBAT. 


HEN they first saw the kobaoba, he was, as 



stated, just coming out of the thicket. 


Without halting, he headed in the direction of the vley 
already mentioned ; and kept on towards it, his object 
evidently being to reach the water. 

This little lake, of course, owed its existence to the 
spring — though it was full two hundred yards from the 
latter — and about the same from the great tree. It 
was nearly circular in shape, and about one hundred 
yards in diameter, so that its superficial area would 
thus be a little over two English acres. It merited, 
then, the name of ‘ ‘ lake ’ ’ ; and by that name the 
young people already called it. 

On its upper side — that in the direction of the spring 
— its shore was high, and in one or two places rocky, 
and these rocks ran back to the spring along the chan- 
nel of a little rivulet. On the west or outer side of the 
lake the land lay lower, and the water at one or two 
points lipped up nearly to the level of the plain. For 
this reason it was, that upon that side, the bank was 


H 1bea\>£ Combat 


paddled all over with tracks of animals that had been 
to drink. Hendrik the hunter had observed among 
them the footprints of many kinds he knew nothing 
about. 

It was for the lower end of the lake the kobaoba was 
making — no doubt with him an old and favourite 
drinking-place. 

There was a point where the water was easier of 
access than elsewhere — a little to one side of where the 
wash or waste-stream of the lake ran out. It was a 
sort of cove with bright sandy beach, and approachable 
from the plain by a miniature gorge, hollowed out, no 
doubt, by the long usage of those animals who came to 
drink at the vley. By entering this cove, the tallest 
animals might get deep water and good bottom, so 
that they could drink without much straining or stoop- 
ing. The kobaoba came on in a direct line for the 
lake ; and as he drew near, they could see him heading 
for the gorge that led into the little cove. It proved 
he had been there before. 

Next moment he passed through the gap, and stood 
knee-deep in the water. 

After swallowing several copious draughts — now 
sneezing, and then wheezing — he plunged his broad 
snout, horn and all, into the water, tossed it till it 
foamed, and then lying down in it, commenced wallow- 
ing like a hog. 

The place was shallow, and most of his huge body 
i37 


TOe ^BusbsdBoES 


was above the surface — though there was deep enough 
water in the lake to have given him a bath had he 
desired it. 

The first thought of Von Bloom, as well as of Hen- 
drik, was how to ‘ ‘ circumvent ’ ’ the rhinoceros, and 
of course destroy him. Not that they simply wished 
his destruction ; but Swartboy had already represented 
what fine food the species was, and there was no stock 
of provision in camp. Hendrik had another object in 
wishing the death of the creature. He wanted a new 
loading-rod for his rifle ; and he had gazed covetously 
at the kobaoba’s long horn. 

But it was easier to desire the death of the rhinoceros 
than to accomplish it. They had no horses — at least 
none that could be mounted — and to attack the animal 
on foot, would be a game as dangerous as idle. He 
would be like enough to impale one of them on his 
great spike, or- else trample them brutally under his 
huge feet. If he did not do one or the other, he would 
easily make his escape — as any kind of rhinoceros can 
outrun a man. 

How were they to manage him then ? 

Perhaps they might get near— fire at him from an 
ambush, and with a lucky shot stretch him out. A 
single bullet sometimes kills the rhinoceros — but only 
when correctly placed, so as to penetrate the heart, or 
some other of the “ vitals.* ’ 

This was, probably, the best plan. They might 
138 


B f)eav£ Combat 


easily get near enough. There was some bush cover 
close to the spot. It was probable the old kobaoba 
would not perceive them, if they approached from lee- 
ward, particularly as he seemed in the full tide of 
enjoyment at that moment. 

They were about to attempt the approach, and had 
got to their feet for that purpose, when a sudden fit 
seemed to have attacked Swartboy. The latter com- 
menced jumping over the ground, at the same time 
muttering in a low voice, — 

‘ ‘ Da klow ! da klow ! ’ ’ 

A stranger would have fancied Swartboy in a fit, 
but Von Bloom knew that by “ Da klow ! da klow ! ” 
the Bushman meant “ L The elephant ! the elephant J ” 
and therefore looked in the direction in which Swart- 
boy was pointing. 

Sure enough, upon the western plain, looming up 
against the yellow sky, was a dark mass, that upon 
examination presented the outlines of an elephant. 
Its rounded back was easily distinguished over the 
low bushes ; and its broad hanging ears were moving 
as it marched. All saw at a glance that it was coming 
towards the lake, and almost in the same track that 
the rhinoceros had taken. 

Of course this new apparition quite disarranged the 
plans of the hunters. At sight of the mighty elephant, 
they scarce any longer gave a thought to the kobaoba. 
Not that they had formed any very great hopes of 
139 


Ube JBusb^JSops 


being able to kill the gigantic animal, yet some such 
thought was running through their minds. They had 
determined to try, at all events. 

Before they could agree upon any plan, however, 
the elephant had got up to the edge of the lake. 
Though moving only at a slow walk, with his immense 
strides he soon measured off a large quantity of ground, 
and advanced much more rapidly than one would have 
supposed. The hunters had scarce time to exchange 
thoughts, before the hugh creature was up within a 
few yards of the water. 

Here he halted, pointed his proboscis in different 
directions, stood quite silent, and seemed to listen. 

There was no noise to disturb him — even the koba- 
oba for the moment was quiet. 

After standing a minute or so, the huge creature 
moved forward again, and entered the gorge already 
described. 

They at the camp had now a full view of him, at 
less than three hundred yards distance. An immense 
mass he seemed. His body quite filled the gorge from 
side to side, and his long yellow tusks projecting more 
than two yards from his jaws, curved gracefully up- 
ward. He was an “old bull,” as Swartboy whispered. 

Up to this time the rhinoceros had not had the 
slightest intimation of the elephant’s approach ; for 
the tread of the latter — big beast as he is — is as silent 
as a cat’s. It is true that a loud rumbling noise like 


140 


H 1beav>2 Combat 


distant thunder proceeded from his inside as he moved 
along ; but the kobaoba was in too high a caper just 
then to have heard or noticed any sound that was not 
very near and distinct. 

The huge body of the elephant coming suddenly 
into “his sunshine,” and flinging its dark shadow 
over the vley, was distinct enough, and caused the 
kobaoba to get to his feet with an agility quite surpris- 
ing for a creature of his build. 

At the same time a noise, something between a 
grunt and a whistle escaped him, as the w T ater was 
ejected from his nostrils. 

The elephant also uttered his peculiar salute in a 
trumpet note, that echoed from the cliffs, and halted in 
his tracks as soon as he saw the rhinoceros. 

No doubt both were surprised at the rencontre as 
both stood for some seconds eyeing each other with 
apparent astonishment. 

This, however, soon gave place to a different feeling. 
Symptoms of anger began to show themselves. It was 
evident that bad blood was brewing between them. 

There was, in fact, a little dilemma. The elephant 
could not get comfortably at the water unless the rhi- 
noceros left the cove ; and the rhinoceros could not 
well get out of the cove, so long as the elephant blocked 
up the gorge with his immense thick limbs. 

It is true, the kobaoba might have sneaked through 
among the other’s legs, or he might have swum off 


Zh e Busb^oys 


and landed at some other point, and in either way have 
left the coast clear. 

But of all animals in the world a rhinoceros is, per- 
haps, the most unaccommodating. He is, also, one of 
the most fearless, dreading neither man nor beast — not 
even the boasted lion, whom he often chases like a cat. 
Hence the old kobaoba had no intention of yielding 
ground to the elephant ; and from his attitude, it was 
plain that he neither intended to sneak off under the 
other’s belly, nor swim a single stroke for him. No — 
not a stroke. 

It remained to be seen how the point of honour was 
to be decided. The attitude of affairs had become so 
interesting, that every one by the camp was gazing 
with fixed eyes upon the two great bulls — for the rhi- 
noceros was also a “ bull ” and of the largest size 
known of his kind. 

For several minutes they stood eyeing each other. 
The elephant, although much the larger, knew his an- 
tagonist well. He had met his “sort” before, and 
knew better than to despise his powers. Perhaps, ere 
now, he had had a touch of that long spit-like excres- 
cence that stood out from the kobaoba’ s snout. 

At all events, he did not rush upon his adversary at 
once — as he would have done on some poor antelope 
that might have crossed him in the same way. 

His patience, however, became exhausted. His 
ancient dignity was insulted — his rule disputed — he 
142 


H 1bea\>£ Combat 


wished to have his bath and his drink — he could bear 
the insolence of the rhinoceros no longer. 

With a bellow that made the rocks ring again, he 
charged forward ; placed his tusks firmly under the 
shoulder of his adversary, — gave a mighty “ lift,” and 
turned the rhinoceros over in the water ! 

For a moment the latter plunged, and blowed, and 
snorted, his head half under water ; but in a second’s 
time he was on his feet again, and charging in turn. 
The spectators could see that he aimed right at the 
elephant’s ribs, with his horn, and that the latter did 
all he could to keep head towards him. 

Again the elephant flung the kobaoba, and again 
the latter rose and charged madly upon his huge an- 
tagonist ; and so both fought until the water around 
them was white with foam. 

The contest was carried on in the water, until the 
elephant, seeming to think his adversary had an ad- 
vantage there, backed himself into the gorge, and 
stood waiting with his head towards the lake. In this 
position the sides of the gorge did not protect him, as 
perhaps he fancied. They were too low, and his broad 
flanks rose far above them. They only kept him from 
turning round, and this interfered with the freedom of 
his movements. 

It could scarce have been design in the rhinoceros to 
act as he now did, though it appeared so to those who 
were watching. As the elephant took up his position 


M3 


ttbe BusFKBoes 


in the gorge, the kobaoba clambered out upon the 
bank ; and then, wheeling suddenly, with head to the 
ground and long horn projected horizontally, the latter 
rushed upon his antagonist and struck him right among 
the ribs. The spectators saw that the horn penetrated, 
and the loud scream that came from the elephant, with 
the quick motions of his trunk and tail, told plainly 
that he had received a severe wound. Instead of stand- 
ing any longer in the gorge he rushed forward, and 
did not stop until he was knee-deep in the lake. 
Drawing the water up into his trunk, he raised it on 
high, and pointing it backwards, he discharged large 
volumes over his body, and upon the spot where he 
had received the thrust of the kobaoba’ s horn. 

He then ran out of the lake, and charged about in 
search of the rhinoceros ; but long-horn was nowhere 
to be found ! 

Having escaped from the cove without compromising 
his dignity, and perhaps believing that he had gained 
the victory, the rhinoceros, as soon as he delivered the 
thrust, had galloped off and disappeared among the 
bushes. 


144 



A DEADLY ENCOUNTER 





CHAPTER XIX. 


THE DEATH OF THE EEEPHANT. 

T HE battle between these two large quadrupeds 
did not continue for more than ten minutes. 
During that time the hunters made no advance towards 
attacking either of them — so much absorbed were they 
in watching the novel contest. It was only after the 
rhinoceros had retreated, and the elephant returned to 
the water, that they once more began to deliberate on 
some plan of assaulting this mightiest of African ani- 
mals. Hans now laid hold of his gun and joined 
them. 

The elephant, after looking about for his enemy, had 
got back, and was standing knee-deep in the lake. 
He appeared restless and highly excited. His tail was 
continually in motion, and at intervals he uttered a 
piercing melancholy scream — far different to the usual 
trumpet-like bellow of his voice. He lifted his huge 
limbSj and then plunged them back again to the bot- 
tom, until the foam gathered upon the water with his 
continued churning. 

But the oddest of his actions was the manner in 


TTbe iJBusb^o^s 


which he employed his long tubular trunk. With this 
he sucked up vast volumes of water, and then pointing 
it backwards ejected the fluid over his back and 
shoulders, as if from an immense syringe. This 
shower-bath he kept repeating time after time, though 
it was evident he was not at his ease. 

They all knew he was angry. Swartboy said it 
would be exceedingly dangerous to be seen by him at 
that moment, without having a horse to gallop out of 
his way. On this account every one of them had con- 
cealed themselves behind the trunk of the nwana-tree, 
Von Bloom peeping past one side, and Hendrik the 
other, in order to watch his movements. 

Notwithstanding the danger, they at length resolved 
to attack him. They believed that if they did not do 
so soon, he would walk off, and leave them supperless 
— for they had hoped to sup upon a slice of his trunk. 
Time, therefore, had grown precious, and they resolved 
to attack him without further ado. 

They intended to creep as near as was safe. All 
three would fire together, and then lie close in the 
bushes until they saw the effect of their shots. 

Without further parley, Von Bloom, Hans, and 
Hendrik, leaving the tree, crept through the bushes 
towards the western end of the lake. It was not a 
continuous thicket, but only an assemblage of copses 
and clumps, so that they required to steal very cau- 
tiously from one to the other. Von Bloom led the way, 
146 


TTbe Beatb of tbe Blepbant 


t : : r — 

while the boys kept in his tracks, following him 
closely. 

After some five minutes spent in this way, they got 
under cover of a little clump near the water’s edge, 
and near enough to the gigantic game. Upon their 
hands and knees they now approached the verge of 
the underwood ; and, having parted the leaves, looked 
through. The mighty quadruped was right under 
their eyes, within twenty yards of them ! 

He was still busy plunging about, and blowing vol- 
umes of water over his body. He gave no sign that 
he had any suspicion of their presence. They could 
take time, therefore, in choosing a part of his huge 
body at which to aim their pieces. 

When first seen from their new position, he was 
standing stern towards them. Von Bloom did not 
think it a good time to fire, as they could not give him 
a deadly wound in that situation. They waited, 
therefore, until he might turn his side, before they 
should deliver their volley. They kept their eyes all 
the while steadily fixed on him. 

He ceased at length to ‘ ‘ chum ’ ’ with his feet, and 
no longer raised water in his trunk ; and now the 
hunters perceived that the lake was red for a space 
around him ! It was his blood that had reddened it. 

They no longer doubted that he had been wounded 
by the rhinoceros ; but whether the wound was a bad 
one they could not tell. It was in his side, and as yet 
i47 


ZTbe BusfrOBogs 


they could only see his broad stern from the position 
in which he still continued to stand. But they waited 
with confidence— as they knew that in turning to get 
out of the water, he would have to present his side 
towards them. 

For several minutes he kept the same position ; but 
they noticed that his tail no longer switched about, 
and that his attitude was loose and drooping. Now 
and then he turned his proboscis to the spot where he 
had received the thrust of the kobaoba’s horn. It 
was evident that the wound was distressing him, and 
this became more apparent by the loud painful breath- 
ing the creature uttered through his trunk. 

The three began to grow impatient. Hendrik asked 
leave to creep round to another point, and give him a 
shot that would turn him round. 

Just at that moment the elephant made a motion, 
as though he was about to come out of the water. 

He had got fairly round — his head and forepart were 
over dry land — the three guns were pointed — the eyes 
of the three hunters were about to glance through the 
sights of their pieces, when all at once he was seen to 
rock and stagger, — and then roll over ! With a loud 
plash, his vast body subsided into the water, sending 
great waves to every corner of the lake. 

The hunters uncocked their guns, and, springing 
from their ambush, rushed forward to the bank. They 
saw at a glance that the elephant was dead. They saw 
148 


Uh e Deatb of tbe Blepbant 


the wound upon his side, — the hole made by the horn 
of the rhinoceros. It was not very large, but the ter- 
rible weapon had penetrated far into his body, into 
his very vitals. No wonder, then, at the result it 
had produced — the death of the mightiest of quad- ‘ 
rupeds. 

As soon as it became known that the elephant was 
dead, everybody was seen rushing forward to the spot. 
Little Triiey and Jan were called from their hiding- 
place — for they had both been hidden in the wagon — 
and Totty, too, went down with the rest. Swartboy 
was one of the first upon the spot, carrying an axe and 
a large knife — for Swartboy had designs upon the 
carcass — while Hans and Hendrik both threw off their 
jackets to assist in the butchering operations. 

And what during this time was Von Bloom about ? 
Ha ! that is a more important question than you 
think for. That was an important hour — the hour 
of a great crisis in the life of the field-cornet. 

He was standing with folded arms on the bank of 
the lake, directly over the spot where the elephant had 
fallen. He appeared to be wrapped in silent medita- 
tion, his eyes bent upon the huge carcass of the ani- 
mal. No, not on the carcass. A close Observer would 
have perceived that his eyes did not wander over that 
mountain of thick skin and flesh, but were .resting 
upon a particular spot. 

Was it the wound in the animal’s side? And was 
149 


Uh e JBuslMBops 


Von Bloom meditating how the thrust had caused 
the death of such a huge creature? 

Neither one nor the other. His thoughts were upon 
a very different theme from either. 

The elephant had fallen so that his head was clear 
of the water, and rested upon a little bank of sand ; 
along which, his soft and limber trunk lay extended 
to its full length. Curving like a pair of gigantic 
scimitars from its base, were the yellow enamelled 
tusks ; those ivory arms that for years — aye centuries, 
perhaps, — had served him to root up the trees of the 
forest, and rout his antagonists in many a dread en- 
counter. Precious and beautiful trophies were they, 
but alas ! their world- wide fame had cost no less than 
life to many thousands of his race. 

Shining in all their magnificence lay these mated 
crescents, gently curved and softly rounded. It was 
upon these that the eyes of the field-cornet were 
bent. 

Aye, and bent too with an eagerness unusual in his 
glance. His lips were compressed, his chest was 
visibly heaving. Oh ! there was a world of thoughts 
passing through the mind of Von Bloom at that 
moment. 

Were they painful thoughts? The expression of 
his face told the contrary. The cloud that all that 
day sat perched upon his brow” had vanished. Not 
a trace of it remained, but in its place could be seen 


Zhc Beatb of tbe Elephant 


the lines of hope and joy, and these feelings at length 
found expression in words. 

“It is the hand of Heaven ! ” he exclaimed aloud. 
“ A fortune — a fortune ! ” 

“What is it, papa?” inquired little Triiey, who 
was near him ; “ what were you speaking about, dear 
papa ? ” 

And then all the others gathered around him, notic- 
ing his excited manner, and pleased at seeing him look 
so happy. 

‘ ‘ What is it, papa ? ’ ’ asked all together, while 
Swartboy and Totty stood eager as the rest to hear 
the answer. 

In the pleasant excitement of his thoughts, the fond 
father could no longer conceal from his children the 
secret of his new-born happiness. He would gratify 
them by disclosing it. 

Pointing to the long crescents he said : 

“You see those beautiful tusks ? ” 

Yes, of course, they all did. 

“ Well, do you know their value ? ” 

No. They knew they were worth something. They 
knew that it was from elephants’ tusks that ivory was 
obtained, or, more properly, that elephants’ tusks were 
ivory itself ; and that it was used in the manufacture 
of hundreds of articles. In fact, little Triiey had a 
beautiful fan made out of it, which had been her 
mother’s ; and Jan had a knife with an ivory handle. 


XTbe BusMSoss 


Ivory was a very beautiful material and cost very dear, 
they knew. All this they knew, but the value of the 
two tusks they could not guess at. They said so. 

“Well, my children,” said Von Bloom, “ as near as 
I can estimate them, they are worth twenty pounds 
each of English money.” 

“ Oh ! oh ! Such a grand sum ! ” cried all in a 
breath. 

“ Yes,” continued the field-cornet ; “I should think 
each tusk is one hundred pounds in weight, and as 
ivory at present sells for four shillings and sixpence 
the pound weight, these two would yield between 
forty and fifty pounds of sterling money. 

“Why, it would buy a full span of best oxen ! ” 
cried Hans. 

“ Four good horses ! ” said Hendrik. 

“ A whole flock of sheep ! ” added little Jan. 

“ But whom can we sell them to ? ” asked Hendrik, 
after a pause. “We are away from the settlements. 
Who is to give us either oxen, or horses, or sheep, for 
them? It would not be w T orth while to carry two 
tusks all the way ” 

“Not two , Hendrik,” said his father, interrupting 
him; “but twenty it might, — aye, twice twenty, or 
three times that number. Now, do you understand 
what makes me so gay ? ” 

“Oh!” exclaimed Hendrik, as well as the others, 
who now began to perceive what their father was so 
152 


TTb e £)eatb of tbe Blepbant 


joyed about, “you think we can obtain more tusks in 
these parts ? ” 

“Precisely so. I think there are many elephants 
here. I feel certain of it from the quantity of their 
spoor I have already noticed. We have our guns and, 
fortunately, plenty of ammunition. We are all pretty 
fair shots — why can we not obtain more of these valu- 
able trophies ? 

“ But we shall,” continued Von Bloom. “ I know 
we shall, because I recognise the hand of God in send- 
ing us this wealth in the midst of our misery — after we 
had lost everything. More will come by the guiding 
of the same hand. So be of good cheer, my children ! 
We shall not want — we shall yet have plenty — we may 
be rich ! ’ ’ 

It was not that any of those young creatures cared 
much about being rich, but because they saw their 
father so happy, that they broke out into something 
more than a murmur of applause. It was, in fact, a 
cheer, in which both Totty and Swartboy joined. It 
rang over the little lake, and caused the birds about 
settling to roost to wonder what was going on. There 
was no happier group in all Africa than stood at that 
moment upon the shore of that lonely little vley. 


153 


CHAPTER XX. 


TURNED HUNTERS. 


HE field-cornet, then, had resolved upon turning 



hunter by profession — a hunter of elephants ; 


and it was a pleasant reflection to think, that this 
occupation promised, not only exciting sport, but great 
profit. He knew that it was not so easy a matter to 
succeed in killing such large and valuable game as 
elephants. He did not suppose that in a few weeks or 
months he would obtain any great quantities of their 
ivory spoils ; but he had made up his mind to spend 
even years in the pursuit. For years he should lead 
the life of a Bushman — for years his sons would be 
‘ ‘ Bush -boys, * ’ and he hoped that in time his patience 
and toil would be amply rewarded. 

That night around the camp-fire all were very happy 
and very merry. The elephant had been left where 
he lay, to be cut up on the morrow. Only his trunk 
had been taken off — part of which was cooked for 
supper. 

Although all the flesh of the elephant is eatable, 
the trunk is esteemed one of the delicate bits. It 


fturneb Ibunters 


tastes not unlike ox-tongue ; and all of them liked it 
exceedingly. To Swartboy, who had made many a 
meal upon “de ole klow,” it was a highly- relished 
feast. 

They had plenty of fine milk too. The cow, now 
upon the best of pasture, doubled her yield ; and the 
quantity of this, the most delicious of all drinks, was 
sufficient to give every one a large allowance. 

While enjoying their new-fashioned dish of roast 
elephant-trunk, the conversation naturally turned upon 
these animals. 

Everybody knows the appearance of the elephant, 
therefore a description of him is quite superfluous. 
But everybody does not know that there are two dis- 
tinct kinds of this gigantic quadruped — the Africa7i 
and Asiatic. 

Until a late period they were thought to be of the 
same species. Now they are acknowledged to be, not 
only distinct, but very different in many respects. 
The Asiatic, or, as it is more frequently called, the 
“ Indian ” elephant is the larger of the two ; but it is 
possible that domestication may have produced a larger 
kind, as is the rule with many animals. The African 
species exists only in a wild state ; and it would ap- 
pear that individuals of this kind have been measured 
having the dimensions of the largest of the wild Asi- 
atic elephants. 

The most remarkable points of difference between 
i55 


Xlbe :I6 usM5o£S 


the two are found in the ears and tusks. The ears of 
the African elephant are of enormous proportions, 
meeting each other above the shoulders, and hanging 
down below the breast. Those of the Indian elephant 
are scarce one-third the size. In his grand tusks the 
former has far the advantage — these in some individuals 
weighing nearly two hundred pounds each — while the 
tusks of the latter rarely reach the weight of one hun- 
dred. To this, however, there are some exceptions. 
Of course a two hundred pound tusk is one of the 
very largest, and far above the average even of African 
elephants. In this species the females are also pro- 
vided with tusks — though not of such size as in the 
males — whereas the female of the Indian elephant has 
either no tusks at all, or they are so small as to be 
scarcely perceptible outside the skin of the lips. 

The other chief points of difference between the two 
are that the front of the Asiatic elephant is concave, 
while that of the African is convex ; and the former 
has four horny toes or sabots on the hind foot, where 
only three appear upon that of the latter. The enamel 
of the teeth presents still another proof of these animals 
being different in species. 

Nor are all Asiatic elephants alike. In this species 
there are varieties which present very distinct features ; 
and, indeed, these “varieties,” as they are called, 
appear to differ from each other, nearly as much as any 
one of them does from the American kind. 

156 


Uurnefc Ibunters 


One variety known among Orientals by the name of 
“mooknah,” has straight tusks that point downward, 
whereas the usual habit of these singular appendages 
is to curve upward. 

Asiatics recognise two main castes , or perhaps species, 
among their elephants. One known as “ coomareah,” 
is a deep bodied, compact, and strong animal, with 
large trunk and short legs. The other called 
“merghee,” is a taller kind, but neither so compact 
nor strong as the coomareah, nor has he so large a 
trunk. His long legs enable him to travel faster than 
the coomareah, but the latter having a larger trunk (a 
point of beauty among elephant owners) and being 
capable of enduring more fatigue, is the favourite, and 
fetches a larger price in the Oriental market. 

Occasionally a white elephant is met with. This is 
simply an ‘ ‘ albino, ’ ’ but such are greatly prized in 
many countries of Asia, and large sums are given for 
them. They are even held in superstitious veneration 
in some parts. 

The Indian elephant at the present time inhabits 
most of the southern countries of Asia, including the 
large islands, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, etc. Of 
course every one knows that in these countries the 
elephant has been trained long ago to the use of man, 
and is one of the “domestic animals.” But he also 
exists in a wild state, both upon the continent of Asia 


i57 


Ube Busb^Bo^s 


and in its islands ; and hunting the elephant is one of 
the grand sports of the East. 

In Africa the elephant exists only in a state of nature. 
None of the nations upon this little-known continent 
tame or train him to any purpose. He is only prized 
among them for his precious tusks, and his flesh as 
well. Some have asserted that this species is more 
fierce than its Indian congener, and could not be 
domesticated. This is altogether a mistake. The rea- 
son why the African elephant is not trained, is simply 
that none of the modern nations of Africa have yet 
reached a high enough point of civilisation to avail 
themselves of the services of this valuable animal. 

The African elephant may be domesticated and 
trained to the “howdah,” or castle, as easily as his 
Indian cousin. The trial has been made ; but that it 
can be done no better proof is required than that at one 
period it was done, and upon a large scale. The 
elephants of the Carthaginian army were of this species. 

The African elephant at present inhabits the central 
and southern parts of Africa. Abyssinia on the east, 
and Senegal on the west, are his northern limits, and 
but a few years ago he roamed southward to the very 
Cape of Good Hope. The activity of the Dutch ivory- 
hunters, with their enormous long guns, has driven 
* him from that quarter ; and he is no longer to be found 
to the south of the Orange River. 

Some naturalists (Cuvier among others) believed the 
158 


Uurnefc Ibunters 


Abyssinian elephant to be of the Indian species. That 
idea is now exploded, and there is no reason to think 
that the latter inhabits any part of Africa. It is very 
likely there are varieties of the African species in dif- 
ferent parts of the continent. It is well known that 
those of the tropical regions are larger than the others ; 
and a reddish a7id very fierce kind is said to be met with 
in the mountains of Africa, upon the river Niger. It 
is probable, however, that these raf elephants seen have 
been some whose bodies were coated with red dust, as 
it is a habit of elephants to powder themselves with dust 
on many occasions, using their trunks as “ dredgers.” 

Swartboy spoke of a variety well known among the 
Hottentot hunters as the “ koes-cops.” This kind, he 
said, differed from the ordinary ones by its altogether 
wanting the tusks, and being of a far more vicious dis- 
position. Its encounter is more dreaded ; but as it pos- 
sesses no trophies to make it worth the trouble and dan- 
ger of killing, the hunters usually give it a wide berth. 

Such was the conversation that night around the 
camp fire. Much of the information here given was 
furnished by Ifans, who of course had gathered it 
from books ; but the Bushman contributed his quota 
— perhaps of a far more reliable character. 

All were destined ere long to make practical ac- 
quaintance with the haunts and habits of this huge 
quadruped, that to them had now become the most 
interesting of all the animal creation. 

159 


CHAPTER XXI. 


“jerking” an eeephant. 

EXT day was one of severe, but joyful labour. 



It was spent in “ curing ” the elephant, not in 


a medical sense, but in the language of the provision 


store. 


Although not equal to either beef or mutton, or 
even pork, the flesh of the elephant is sufficiently palat- 
able to be eaten. There is no reason why it should 
not be, for the animal is a clean feeder, and lives alto- 
gether on vegetable substances — the leaves and tender 
shoots of trees, with several species of bulbous roots, 
which he well knows how to extract from the ground 
with his tusks and trunk. It does not follow from this 
that his beef should be well tasted — since we see that 
the hog, one of the most unclean of feeders, yields 
most delicious ‘ ‘ pork ’ ’ ; while another of the same 
family ( pachydermata ) that subsists only on sweet 
succulent roots, produces a flesh both insipid and bitter. 
I allude to the South American tapir. The quality of 
the food, therefore, is no criterion of the quality of the 
flesh. 

It is true that the beef of the elephant was not what 


' Jerking ” an Blepbant 


Von Bloom and most of his family would have chosen 
for their regular diet. Had they been sure of procur- 
ing a supply of antelope venison, the great carcass 
might have gone, not to the “ dogs,” but to their kin- 
dred the hyenas. But they were not sure of getting 
even a single antelope, and therefore decided upon 
‘ ‘ curing ’ ’ the elephant. It would be a safe stock to 
have on hand, and need not interfere with their eating 
venison, or any other dainty that might turn up. 

The first thing done was to cut out the tusks. This 
proved a tough job, and occupied full two hours. 
Fortunately there was a good axe on hand. But for 
this and Swartboy’ s knowledge, double the time might 
have been wasted in the operation. 

The ivory having been extracted and put away in a 
safe place, the ‘ ‘ cutting up ’ ’ then commenced in earn- 
est. Von Bloom and Swartboy were the “ baas- 
butchers,” while Hans and Hendrik played the part of 
“ swabs.” As the carcass lay half under water, they 
would have had some difficulty in dealing with the 
under part. But this they did not design to touch. 
The upper half would be amply sufficient to provision 
them a long while ; and so they set about removing 
the skin from that side that was uppermost. 

The rough thick outer coat they removed in broad 
sheets cut into sections ; and then they peeled off 
several coats of an under skin, of tough and pliant 
nature. Had they needed water-vessels, Swartboy 


XTbe IBusbsOBogs 


would have saved this for making them — as it is used 
for such purposes by the Bushmen and other natives. 
But they had vessels enough in the wagon, and this 
skin was thrown away. 

They had now reached the pure flesh, which they 
separated in large sheets from the ribs ; and then the 
ribs were cut out, one by one, w T ith the axe. This 
trouble they would not have taken — as they did not 
want the ribs — but they cut them away for another 
reason, namely, to enable them to get at the valuable 
fat, which lies in enormous quantities around the 
intestines. Of course for all cooking purposes, the 
fat would be to them invaluable, and indeed almost 
necessary to render the flesh itself eatable. 

It is no easy matter to get at the fat in the inside of 
an elephant, as the whole of the intestines have first to 
be removed. But Swartboy was not to be deterred by 
a little trouble ; so climbing into the interior of the 
huge carcass, he commenced cutting and delving, and 
every now and then passing a multitude of ‘ ‘ inwards’ ’ 
out to the others, who carried them off out of the way. 

After a long spell of this work, the fat was secured, 
and carefully packed in a piece of clean under-skin ; 
and then the “butchering” was finished. 

Of course the four feet, which along with the trunk 
are considered the “tit-bits,” had alread}^ been sepa- 
rated at the fetlock joint ; and stood out upon the bank, 
for the future consideration of Swartboy. 

162 


“Jerfnno” an Elephant 


The next thing to be done was to ‘ ‘ cure ’ ’ the meat. 
They had a stock of salt — that precious, though, as 
lately discovered, not indispensable article. But the 
quantity — stowed away in a dry corner of the wagon 
—was small, and would have gone but a short way in 
curing an elephant. 

They had no idea of using it for such a purpose. 
Flesh can be preserved without salt ; and not only 
Swartboy, but Von Bloom himself, knew how to pre- 
serve it. In all countries where salt is scarce, the pro- 
cess of ‘ ‘ jerking ’ ’ meat is well understood, and consists 
simply in cutting it into thin strips and hanging it out 
in the sun. A few days of bright warm sunshine will 
“jerk ” it sufficiently ; and meat thus dried will keep 
good for months. A slow fire will answer the purpose 
nearly as well ; and in the absence of sunshine, the 
fire is often resorted to. 

Sun-dried meat in South Africa is called “ bil- 
tongue. ’ ’ The Spaniards of Mexico name it ‘ ‘ tasajo, ’ ’ 
while those of Peru style it “ charqui.” In English it 
is “jerked ” meat. 

Several hours were spent in cutting the elephant- 
beef into strips, and then a number of forked poles 
were set up, others were laid horizontally over the 
forks, and upon these the meat was suspended, and 
hung down in numberless festoons. 

Before the sun went down, the neighbourhood of 
the camp presented a rare appearance. It looked 
163 


XTbe 36u5b=Bo^5 


somewhat like the enclosure of a yarn-bleacher, ex- 
cept that the hanging strips, instead of being white, 
were of a beautiful clear ruby colour. 

But the work was not yet completed. The feet re- 
mained to be “preserved,” and the mode of curing 
these was entirely different. That was a secret known 
only to Swartboy, and in the execution of it the Bush- 
man played first fiddle, with the important air of a 
chef de cuisine. 

He proceeded as follows : 

He first dug a hole in the ground, about two feet 
deep, and a little more in diameter — just large enough 
to admit one of the feet, which was nearly two feet in 
diameter at the base. The earth which came out of 
this hole Swartboy placed in the form of a loose 
embankment around the edge. 

By his direction the boys had already collected upon 
the spot a large quantity of dried branches and logs. 
These Swartboy now built over the hole, into a pyra- 
mid ten feet high, and then set the pile on fire. He 
next proceeded to make three other pits precisely 
similar, and built over each a fire like the first, until 
four large fires were burning upon the ground. 

The fires being now fairly under way, he could only 
wait until each had burned down. This would carry 
the process into the night, and so it turned out ; but 
Swartboy had a foresight of this. He knew he would 


164 


“ Jerking ” an Elephant 


get through with the more important portion of his 
work before bedtime. 

When the first fire had burned quite to red cinders, 
Swartboy’s hardest turn of duty began. With a shovel 
he lifted the cinders out of the hole, until it was empty ; 
but he was more than an hour in performing this ap- 
parently simple labour. The difficulty arose from the 
intense heat he had to encounter, which drove him 
back after every few moments’ work ; so that he was 
compelled to retreat at intervals in order to cool him- 
self. 

The “baas,” as well as Hendrik and Hans, took 
turns with him, until all four were perspiring as if 
they had been shut up for half-an-hour in a baker’s 
oven. 

When the hole was thoroughly scooped clean of 
coals, Swartboy, assisted by Von Bloom, lifted one of 
the huge feet ; and, carrying it as near as they dare 
go on account of the scorching heat, they dropped it 
in upon its base. 

The sandy earth which had been originally re- 
moved, and which was now as hot as molten lead, 
was pushed over, and around the foot ; and then the 
cinders were raked on top, and over that another huge 
fire was kindled. 

The same process was gone through with the other 
three feet, and all four were to be left in the “ oven ” 


165 


Ube IBusb^ops 


until the fires should be burned down, when they 
would be found sufficiently “ baked.” 

Swartboy would then rake off the cinders, take out 
the feet with a sharp wooden spit, beat them well to 
get rid of the dust, scrape the sand clear, then pare 
off the outside skin, when they would be ready either 
to be eaten or would keep for a long time. 

Swartboy would do all this as soon as the four huge 
bon-fires should burn down. 

But that would not be before the morning; so all 
of them, fatigued by the extraordinary exertions of 
the day, finished their suppers of broiled trunk, and 
went to rest under the protecting shadow of the 


nwana. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


the hideous hyena. 



ATIGUED as they were, they would soon have 


JL fallen asleep. But they were not permitted to 
do so. As they lay with closed eyes in that half- 
dreamy state that precedes sleep, they were suddenly 
startled by strange voices near the camp. 

These voices were uttered in peals of loud laugh- 
ter ; and no one, unacquainted with them, would have 
pronounced them to be anything else than the voices 
of human beings. They exactly resembled the strong 
treble produced by the laugh of a maniac negro. It 
seemed as if some Bedlam of negroes had been let 
loose, and were approaching the spot. 

I say approaching, because each moment the sounds 
grew clearer and louder ; and it was evident that what- 
ever gave utterance to them was coming nearer to the 
camp. 

That there was more than one creature was evident 
— aye, and it was equally evident that there was 
more than one kind of creature ; for so varied were 
the voices, it would have puzzled a ventriloquist to 


Uhc XtasMBogs 


have given imitations of them all. There was howl- 
ing, and whining, and grunting, and growling, and 
low melancholy moaning as of some one in pain, 
and hissing, and chattering, and short sharp into- 
nations, as if it were the barking of dogs, and then 
a moment or two of deep silence, and again that 
chorus of human-like laughter, that in point of hor- 
ror and hideous suggestions surpassed all the other 
sounds. 

You will suppose that such a wild concert must have 
put the camp in a state of great alarm. Not a bit of it. 
Nobody was frightened the least — not even innocent 
little Triiey, nor the diminutive Jan. 

Had they been strangers to these sounds, no doubt 
they would have been more than frightened. They 
would have been terrified by them ; for they were cal- 
culated to produce such an effect upon any one to 
whose ears they were new. 

But Von Bloom and his family had lived too long 
upon the wild karoo to be ignorant of those voices. In 
the howling, and chattering, and yelping, they heard 
but the cries of the jackal ; and they well knew the 
maniac laugh of the hideous hyena. 

Instead of being alarmed, and springing from their 
beds, they lay still and listened — not dreading any 
attack from the noisy creatures. 

Von Bloom and the children slept in the wagon ; 
Swartboy and Totty upon the ground — but these lay 
168 


Ube IFMbeons Ibvena 


close to the fires, and therefore did not fear wild beasts 
of any kind. 

But the hyenas and jackals upon this occasion ap- 
peared to be both numerous and bold. In a few min- 
utes after they were first heard, their cries rose around 
the camp on all sides, so near and so loud as to be 
positively disagreeable — even without considering the 
nature of the brutes that uttered them. 

At last they came so close, that it was impossible to 
look in any direction without seeing a pair of green or 
red eyes gleaming under the light of the fires ! White 
teeth, too, could be observed, as the hyenas opened 
their jaws, to give utterance to their harsh laughter- 
like cries. 

With such a sight before their eyes, and such sounds 
ringing in their ears, neither Von Bloom nor any of 
his people — tired as they were — could go to sleep. 
Indeed, not only was sleep out of the question, but, 
worse than that, all — the field-cornet himself not ex- 
cepted — began to experience some feelings of appre- 
hension, if not actual alarm. 

They had never beheld a troop of hyenas so numer- 
ous and fierce. There could not be less than two 
dozen of them around the camp, with twice that num- 
ber of jackals. 

Von Bloom knew that although, under ordinary cir- 
cumstances, the hyena is not a dangerous animal, yet 
there are places and times when he will attack human 
169 


XTbe BusMSops 


beings. Swartboy knew this well, and Hans, too, 
from having read of it. No wonder, then, that some 
apprehension was felt by all of them. 

The hyenas now behaved with such boldness, and 
appeared so ravenous, that sleep was out of the ques- 
tion. Some demonstration must be made to drive the 
brutes away from the camp. 

Von Bloom, Hans, and Hendrik, laid hold of their 
guns, and got out of the wagon, while Swartboy armed 
himself with his bow and arrows. All four stood close 
by the trunk of the nwana, on the other side from that 
where the fires were. In this place they were in the 
shadow, where they could best observe anything that 
should come under the light of the fires without being 
themselves seen. Their position was well chosen. 

They had scarcely fixed themselves in it, when they 
perceived a great piece of neglect they had been guilty 
of. Now, for the first time it occurred to them what 
had brought the hyenas around them in such numbers. 
Beyond a doubt it was the flesh of the elephant, — the 
biltongue. 

That was what the beasts were after ; and all 
now saw that a mistake had been committed in 
hanging the meat too low. The hyenas might easily 
get at it. 

This was soon made manifest ; for, even at the mo- 
ment while they stood watching the red festoons, 
plainly visible under the light of Swartboy’ s fires, a 
170 


Ube ibibeous ibpena 


shaggy spotted brute rushed forward, reared up on his 
hind-legs, seized one of the pieces, dragged it down 
from the pole, and then ran off with it into the 
darkness. 

A rushing sound could be heard as the others joined 
him to get share of his plunder ; and, no doubt, in less 
than half a minute the morsel was consumed ; for, at 
the end of that time, glancing eyes and gleaming teeth 
showed that the whole troop was back again and ready 
to make a fresh .seizure. 

None of the hunters had fired, as the nimbleness with 
which the brutes moved about rendered it difficult to 
take aim at any one of them ; and all knew that pow- 
der and lead were too precious to be wasted on a 
“flying shot.” 

Emboldened by their success, the hyenas had now 
drawn nearer, and in a moment more would have made 
a general charge upon the scaffolds of flesh, and, no 
doubt, would have succeeded in carrying off a large 
quantity of it. But just then it occurred to Von Bloom 
that it would be best to lay aside their guns and 
remedy the mistake they had made, by putting the 
biltongue out of reach. If they did not do so, they 
would either have to remain awake all night and 
guard it, or else lose every string of it. 

How was it to be put out of reach ? 

At first they thought of collecting it into a heap and 
stowing it away in the wagon. That would not only 
171 


Uhc JBusb^Bops 


be an unpleasant job, but it would interfere with their 
sleeping quarters. 

An alternative, however, presented itself. They saw 
that if the scaffolds were only high enough, the meat 
might be easily hung so as to be out of reach of the 
hyenas. The only question was, how to place the 
cross-poles a little higher. In the darkness they could 
not obtain a new set of uprights, and therein lay the 
difficulty. How were they to get over it ? 

Hans had the credit of suggesting a way : and that 
was, to take out some of the uprights, splice them to 
the others, with the forked ends uppermost, and then 
rest the horizontal poles on the upper forks. That 
would give a scaffold tall enough to hang the meat 
beyond the reach of either jackals or hyenas. 

Hans’s suggestion was at once adopted. Half of the 
uprights were taken up and spliced against the others 
so as to raise their forks full twelve feet in the air ; and 
then the cross-poles were rested over their tops. By 
standing upon one of the wagon-chests, Von Bloom 
was able to fling the strips of meat over the horizontal 
poles, and in such a manner that it hung only a few 
inches down, and was now quite beyond the reach of 
the ravenous brutes. 

When the business was finished, the party resumed 
their station under the shadow of the tree, intending 
to watch for a while, and see how the wolfish intruders 
would act. 


172 


XTbe Ibibeous Ib^ena 


They had not long to watch. In less than five min- 
utes the troop approached the biltongue, howling, and 
gibbering, and laughing, as before ; only this time ut- 
tering peculiar cries, as if to express disappointment. 
They saw at a glance that the tempting festoons were 
no longer within their reach ! 

They were not going to leave the ground, however, 
without assuring themselves of this fact ; and several 
of the largest approached boldly under the scaffolds, 
and commenced leaping up to try the height. 

After several attempts, springing each time as high 
as they were able, they appeared to grow discouraged ; 
and no doubt would in time have imitated the fox with 
the grapes, and gone quietly away. But Von Bloom, 
indignant at being roused after such a fashion, from his 
pleasant rest, was determined to take some revenge 
upon his tormenters ; so he whispered the word to the 
others, and a volley was delivered from behind the tree. 

The unexpected discharge caused a quick scattering 
of both hyenas and jackals, and the pattering of their 
numerous feet could be heard as they ran off. When 
the ground under the scaffold was examined, two of 
the larger of these ravenous quadrupeds, and one of 
the smaller, were found to have bitten the dust. 

Swartboy had discharged his arrow along with the 
guns, and it was he that had slain the jackal, for the 
poisoned shaft was seen sticking between the animal’s 
ribs. 


i73 


Uhc :J6usfo*:Bops 


The guns were again loaded, the party took their 
stations as before ; but, although they waited another 
half-hour, neither hyena nor jackal made their ap- 
pearance. 

They had not gone far away, however, as their wild 
music testified ; but the reason they did not return 
was, that they had now discovered the half carcass of 
the elephant that lay in the lake, and upon that they 
were making their supper. Their plunging in the 
water could be distinctly heard from the camp, and 
during the whole night they quarrelled and growled, 
and laughed and yelled, as they gorged themselves on 
their ample prey. 

Of course Von Bloom and his people did not sit up 
all night to listen to this medley of noises. As soon 
as they perceived that the brutes were not likely to 
come any more near the camp, they laid aside their 
weapons, returned to their respective sleeping-places, 
and were all soon buried in the sweet slumber that 
follows a day of healthy exercise. 


174 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


stacking the ourebi. 

EXT morning the hyenas and jackals had dis- 



appeared from the scene, and, to the surprise 


of all, not a particle of flesh was left upon the bones 
of the elephant. There lay the huge skeleton picked 
clean, the bones even polished white by the rough 
tongues of the hyenas. Nay, still stranger to relate, 
two of the horses — these poor brutes had been long 
since left to themselves, — had been pulled down during 
the night, and their skeletons lay at a short distance 
from the camp as cleanly picked as that of the ele- 
phant ! 

All this was evidence of the great number of raven- 
ous creatures that must have their home in that quar- 
ter, — evidence, too, that game animals abounded, for 
where these are not numerous the beasts of prey can- 
not exist. Indeed, from the quantity of tracks that 
were seen upon the shores of the vley, it was evident 
that animals of various kinds had drunk there during 
the night. There was the round solid hoof of the 
quagga, and his near congener the dauw ; and there 


Uhc JBusb^JBops 


was the neat hoofprint of the gemsbok, and the larger 
track of the eland ; and among these Von Bloom did 
not fail to notice the spoor of the dreaded lion. Al- 
though they had not heard his roaring that night, they 
had no doubt but there were plenty of his kind in that 
part of the country. The presence of his favourite 
prey, — the quaggas, the gemsboks, and the elands, — 
were sure indications that the king of beasts was not 
far off. 

Not much work was done that day. The heavy 
labour of curing the biltongue, that had occupied 
them the whole of the preceding day, and their dis- 
turbed rest, had rendered them all listless ; and neither 
Von Bloom nor the others had any inclination . for 
work. So they moved around the camp and did very 
little. 

Swartboy took his elephant’s feet from the oven, and 
cleaned them ; and also let down the biltongue and 
arranged it so as to be better exposed to the sun. Von 
Bloom himself shot the three remaining horses, having 
driven them to a good distance from the camp. He 
did this to put an end to the suffering of the poor 
brutes, — for it was plain to every one that they could 
survive but a day or two longer ; and to send a 
bullet through the heart of each was an act of mercy 
to them. 

Out of all the live stock of the field-cornet, the cow 
alone remained, and she was now tended with the 
176 


* 


Stalking tbe ©urebt 


greatest care. Without the precious milk, which she 
yielded in such quantity, their diet would have been 
savage enough ; and they fully appreciated the service 
she rendered them. Kach day she was driven out to 
the best pasture, and at night shut up in a safe kraal 
of wait-a-bit thorns, that had been built for her at a 
little distance from the tree. These thorns had been 
placed in such a manner that their shanks all radiated 
inward, w T hile the bushy tops were turned out, forming 
a chevaux-de-frise y that scarce any animal would have 
attempted to get through. Such a fence will turn even 
the lion, unless when he has been rendered fierce and 
reckless by provocation. 

Of course a gap had been left for the cow to pass in 
and out, and this was closed by one immense bush, 
which served all the purpose of a gate. Such was the 
kraal of “ old Graff.” Besides the cow, the only liv- 
ing thing that remained in camp was Triiey’s little pet, 
the fawn of the gazelle. 

But on that very day another pet was added, a dear 
little creature, not less beautiful than the springbok, 
and of still more diminutive proportions. That was 
the fawn of an “ourebi,” — one of the elegant little 
antelopes that are found in such variety over the plains 
and in the “ bush ” of Southern Africa. 

It was to Hendrik they were indebted not only for 
this pet, but for a dinner of delicate venison, which 
they had that day eaten, and which all of them, ex- 
177 


X2 


Ube Busb^BoES 


cept Swartboy, preferred to elephant-beef. Hendrik 
had procured the venison by a shot from his rifle, and 
in the following manner : 

About midday he went out — having fancied that 
upon a large grassy meadow near the camp he saw 
some animal. After walking about half a mile, and 
keeping among bushes, around the edge of the meadow, 
he got near enough to be sure that it was an animal he 
had observed, — for he now saw two in the place he had 
marked. 

They were of a kind he had not met with before. 
They were very small creatures, — smaller even than 
springboks, — but, from their general form and appear- 
ance, Hendrik knew they were either antelopes or deer ; 
and, as Hans had told him there were no deer in South- 
ern Africa , he concluded that they must be some species 
of antelope. They were a buck and a doe, — this he 
knew because one of them only carried horns. The 
buck was under two feet in height, of slender make, 
and pale tawny colour. He was white-bellied, with 
white arches above the eyes, and some long white hair 
under the throat. Below his knees were yellowish 
tufts of long hair ; and his horns — instead of being 
lyrate, like those of the springbok — rose nearly verti- 
cal to the height of four inches. They were black in 
colour, round-shaped, and slightly ringed. The doe 
was without horns, and was a much smaller animal 
than her mate. . 


178 


Stalking tbe ©urebt 


From all these marks Hendrik thought the little 
antelopes were ‘ ‘ ourebis ; ’ ’ and such they were. 

He continued to stalk in upon them, until he was as 
close as he could get. But he was still more than two 
hundred yards from them, and of course far from being 
within shooting distance with his small rifle. 

A thick jong dor a bush concealed him, but he dared 
not go farther else the game would have taken the 
alarm. He could perceive that they were shy creatures. 

Every now and again the buck would raise his 
graceful neck to its full stretch, utter a slight bleating 
call, and look suspiciously around him. From these 
symptoms Hendrik drew the inference that it was shy 
game, and would not be easily approached. 

He lay for a moment, thinking what he should do. 
He was to leeward of the game, as he had purposely 
gone there ; but after a while, to his chagrin, he saw 
that they were feeding up the wind , and of course 
widening the distance between them and himself. 

It occurred to Hendrik that it might be their habit 
to browse up the wind, as springboks and some other 
species do. If so, he might as well give it up, or else 
make a long circuit and head them. To do this would 
be a work of labour and of time, and a very uncertain 
stalk it would be in the end. After all his long 
tramping, and creeping, and crouching, the game 
would be like enough to scent him before they came 
within shot — for it is for this very reason that their 
179 


XTbe JBusbsOBops 


instinct teaches them to browse against , and not with 
the wind. 

As the plain was large, and the cover very distant, 
Hendrik was discouraged and gave up the design he 
had half formed of trying to head them. 

He was about to rise to his feet, and return home, 
when it occurred to him that perhaps he might find a 
decoy available. He knew there were several species 
of antelopes, with whom curiosity was stronger than 
fear. He had often lured the springbok within reach. 
Why would not these obey the same impulse ? 

He determined to make trial. At the worst he could 
only fail, and he had no chance of getting a shot 
otherwise. 

Without losing a moment he thrust his hand into 
his pocket. He should have found there a large red 
handkerchief which he had more than once used for a 
similar purpose. To his chagrin it was not there ! 

He dived into both pockets of his jacket, then into 
his wide trousers, then under the breast of his waist- 
coat. No. The handkerchief was not to be found. 
Alas ! it had been left in the wagon ! It was very 
annoying. 

What else could he make use of? Take off his jacket 
and hold it up ? It was not gay enough in colour. 
It would not do. 

Should he raise his hat upon the end of his gun ? 
That might be better, but still it would look too much 
180 


Stalking the ©urebt 


like the human form, and Hendrik knew that all ani- 
mals feared that. 

A happy thought at length occurred to him. He 
had heard, that with the curious antelopes, strange 
forms or movements attract almost as much as glaring 
colours. He remembered a trick that was said to be 
practised with success by the hunters. It was easy 
enough, and consisted merely in the hunter standing 
upon his hands and head, and kicking his heels in 
the air ! 

Now Hendrik happened to be one of those very 
boys who had often practised this little bit of gymnas- 
tics for amusement ; and he could stand upon his head 
like an acrobat. 

Without losing a moment he placed his rifle upon the 
ground, between his hands, and hoisting his feet into the 
air, commenced kicking them about, clinking them to- 
gether, and crossing them in the most fantastic manner. 

He had placed himself so that his face was turned 
toward the animals, while he stood upon his head. 
Of course he could not see them while in this position, 
as the grass was a foot high ; but, at intervals, he per- 
mitted his feet to descend to the earth ; and then, by 
looking between his legs, he could tell how the ruse 
was succeeding. 

It did succeed. The buck, on perceiving the strange 
object, uttered a sharp whistle, and darted off with 
the swiftness of a bird — for the ‘ ‘ ourebi ’ ’ is one of 
181 


Ube Busb=J6o^s 


the swiftest of African antelopes. The doe followed, 
though not so fast, and soon fell into the rear. 

The buck perceiving this, suddenly halted — as if 
ashamed of his want of gallantry — wheeled round, and 
galloped back, until he was once more between the doe 
and the odd thing that had alarmed him. 

What could this odd thing be ? he now seemed to in- 
quire of himself. It was not a lion, nor a leopard, nor 
a hyena, nor yet a jackal. It was neither fox, nor fen- 
nec, nor earth-wolf, nor wild hound, nor any of his well- 
known enemies. It was not a Bushman neither, for 
they are not double-headed as it appeared. What could 
it be ? It had kept its place — it had not pursued him. 
Perhaps it was not at all dangerous. No doubt it was 
harmless enough. 

So reasoned the ourebi. His curiosity overcame his 
fear. He would go a little nearer. He would have a 
better view of the thing before he took to flight. No 
matter what it was, it could do no hurt at that dis- 
tance ; and as to overtaking him , pah ! there wasn’t 
a creature, biped or quadruped, in all Africa that he 
could not fling dust in the face of. 

So he went a little nearer, and then a little nearer 
still, and continued to advance by successive runs, now 
this way and now that way, zigzagging over the plain, 
until he was within less than a hundred paces of the 
odd object that at first sight had so terrified him. 

His companion, the doe, kept close after him ; and 



HENDRIC DECOYING THE OUREBIS, 








































• « 














V 





































c 




.» 


































t 

















t 








• 














Stalfetncj tbe ©urebt 


seemed quite as curious as himself— her large shining 
eyes opened to their full extent, as she stopped to gaze 
at intervals. 

Sometimes the two met each other in their course ; 
and halted a moment, as though they held consultation 
in whispers ; and asked each other if they had yet 
made out the character of the stranger. 

It was evident, however, that neither had done so — 
as they still continued to approach it with looks and 
gestures of inquiry and wonder. 

At length the odd object disappeared for a moment 
under the grass ; and then reappeared, — but this time 
in an altered form. Something about it glanced 
brightly under the sun, and this glancing quite fasci- 
nated the buck, so that he could not stir from the spot, 
but stood eyeing it steadily. 

Fatal fascination ! It was his last gaze. A bright 
flash shot up — something struck him through the 
heart, and he saw the shining object no more. 

The doe bounded forward to where her mate had 
fallen, and stood bleating over him. She knew not 
the cause of his sudden death, but she saw that he 
was dead. The wound in his side — the stream of red 
blood — were under her eyes. She had never witnessed 
death in that form before, but she knew her lover 
was dead. His silence — his form stretched along the 
grass motionless and limber— his glassy eyes— all told 
her he had ceased to live. 


TTbe 36u8b=J3o^a 


She would have fled, but she could not leave him — 
she could not bear to part even from his lifeless form. 
She would remain a while, and mourn over him. 

Her widowhood was a short one. Again flashed 
the priming, — again cracked the shining tube — and 
the sorrowing doe fell over upon the body of her 
mate. 

The young hunter rose to his feet, and ran forward. 
He did not, according to the usual custom, stop to 
load before approaching his quarry. The plain was 
perfectly level, and he saw no other animal upon it. 
What was his surprise on reaching the antelopes, to 
perceive that there was a third one of the party still 
alive ! 

Yes, a little fawn, not taller than a rabbit, was 
bounding about through the grass, running around the 
prostrate body of its mother, and uttering its tiny bleat. 

Hendrik was surprised, because he had not observed 
this creature before ; but, indeed he had not seen 
much of the antelopes until the moment of taking aim, 
and the grass had concealed the tiny young one. 

Hunter as Hendrik was, he could not help feeling 
strongly as he regarded the tableau before him. But he 
felt that he had not wantonly destroyed these creatures 
for mere amusement, and that satisfied his conscience. 

The little fawn would make a famous pet for Jan, 
who had often wished for one, to be equal with his 
sister. It could be fed upon the cow’s milk, and, 
184 


Stalfetna tbe ©urebi 


though it had lost both father and mother, Hendrik 
resolved that it should be carefully brought up. He 
had no difficulty in capturing it, as it refused to leave 
the spot where its mother lay, and Hendrik soon held 
the gentle creature in his arms. 

He then tied the buck and doe together ; and, hav- 
ing fastened a strong cord round the horns of the 
latter, he set off dragging the two antelopes behind 
him. 

As these lay upon the ground, heads foremost, they 
were drawn with the grain of the hair , which made it 
much easier ; and as there was nothing but grass sward 
to be passed over, the young hunter succeeded in taking 
the whole of his game to camp without any great 
difficulty. 

The joy of all was great at seeing such a fine lot of 
venison, but Jan’s rejoicing was greater than all ; and 
he no longer envied Triiey the possession of her little 
gazelle. 


185 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


EITTEE JAN’S ADVENTURE. 

I T would have been better that Jan had never seen 
the little “ ourebi,” — better both for Jan and the 
antelope, for that night the innocent creature was the 
cause of a terrible panic in the camp. 

They had all gone to sleep as on the previous night, 
— Von Bloom and the four children in the wagon, while 
the Bushman and Totty slept upon the grass. The lat- 
ter lay under the wagon ; but Swartboy had kindled a 
large fire at a little distance from it, and beside this had 
stretched himself, rolled up in his sheepskin kaross. 

They had all gone to sleep without being disturbed 
by the hyenas. This was easily accounted for. The 
three horses that had been shot that day occupied the 
attention of these gentry, for their hideous voices could 
be heard off in the direction where the carcasses lay. 
Having enough to give them a supper, they found no 
occasion to risk themselves in the neighbourhood of 
the camp, where they experienced such a hostile recep- 
tion on the previous night. So reasoned Von Bloom, 
as he turned over and fell asleep. 

1 86 


Xittle 3an’s H5v>enture 


He did not reason correctly, however. It was true 
that the hyenas were just then making a meal upon 
the horses ; but it was a mistake to suppose that that 
would satisfy these ravenous brutes, who never seem 
to have enough. L,ong before morning, had Von 
Bloom been awake he would have heard the maniac 
laugh closer to the camp, and might have seen ‘the 
green eyes of the hyena glancing under the expiring 
blaze of Swartboy’s camp-fire. 

Indeed, he had heard the beasts once that he awoke ; 
but, knowing that the biltongue had been this night 
placed out of their reach, and thinking that there was 
nothing to which they could do any harm, he gave no 
heed to their noisy demonstrations, and went to sleep 
again. 

He was awakened, however, by a shrill squeak, as 
of some animal in the agonies of death ; and then 
there was a second squeak, that seemed to be sud- 
denly interrupted by the stifling of the creature’s 
utterance ! 

In these cries Von Bloom, as well as the others — 
who were now also awake — recognised the bleat of 
the ourebi, for they had heard it several times during 
the afternoon. 

“ The hyenas are killing it ! ” thought they. But 
they had not time to say so, before another and far 
different cry reached their ears, and caused them all 
to start as if a bomb-shell had burst under the wagon. 

187 


Ube JBusMBopa 


That cry was the voice of Jan, and sounded in the 
same direction whence came the scream of the stifled 
antelope ! 

“ O heaven ! what could it mean ? ” 

The child’s voice first reached them in a sudden 
screech — then there was a confused noise resembling 
a scuffle — and Jan was again heard crying aloud for 
help, while at the same time his voice was interrupted, 
and each call appeared to come from a greater distance ! 
Something or somebody was carrying him off ! 

This idea occurred to Von Bloom, Hans, and Hen- 
drik, at the same instant. Of course it filled them 
with consternation ; and, as they were scarce yet 
awake, they knew not what to do. 

The cries of Jan, however, soon brought them to 
their senses ; and to run towards the direction whence 
these came was the first thought of all. 

To grope for their guns would waste time, and all 
three leaped out of the wagon without them. 

Totty was upon her feet and jabbering, but she 
knew no more than they what had happened. 

They did not stop long to question her. The voice 
of Swartboy, uttered in loud barks and clicks, sum- 
moned them elsewhere ; and they now beheld a red 
flaming brand rushing through the darkness, which 
no doubt was carried in the hands of that worthy. 

They started off in the direction of the blazing torch, 
and ran as fast as they could. They still heard the 
188 


Xittle Jan’s Bfcventure 


Bushman’s voice, and to their dismay beyond it the 
screams of little Jan ! 

Of course they could not tell what was causing all 
this. They only pressed on with fearful apprehensions. 

When they had got within some fifty paces of the 
torch, they perceived it suddenly descend, then raised 
again, and again brought down, in a rapid and violent 
manner ! They could hear the voice of the Bushman 
barking and clicking louder than ever, as though he 
was engaged in chastising some creature. 

But Jan’s voice they no longer heard — he was scream- 
ing no more — was he dead ? 

With terrible forebodings they rushed on. 

When they arrived upon the spot, a singular picture 
presented itself to their eyes. Jan lay upon the ground, 
close in by the roots of some bushes which he was 
holding tightly in his grasp. From one of his wrists 
extended a stout thong, or rheim , which passed through 
among the bushes to the distance of several feet ; and, 
fast to its other end, was the ourebi fawn, dead, and 
terribly mangled ! Over the spot stood Swartboy with 
his burning tree, which blazed all the brighter that 
he had just been using it over the back of a ravenous 
hyena. The latter was not in sight. It had long since 
skulked off, but no one thought of pursuit, as all were 
too anxious about Jan. 

No time was lost in lifting the child to his feet. The 
eyes of all ran eagerly over him to see where he was 
189 


Ube JSusMBoes 


wounded ; and an exclamation of joy soon broke forth 
when they saw that, except the scratches of the thorns, 
and the deep track of a cord upon his wrist, nothing 
in the shape of a wound could be discovered upon his 
diminutive body. He had now come to himself, and 
assured them all that he was not hurt a bit. Hurrah ! 
Jan was safe ! 

It now fell to Jan’s lot to explain all this mysterious 
business. 

He had been lying in the wagon along with the rest, 
but not like them asleep. No. He could not sleep 
a wink for thinking on his new pet, which, for want 
of room in the wagon, had been left below tied to one 
of the wheels. 

Jan had taken it into his head that he would like 
to have another look at the ourebi before going to 
sleep. So, without saying a word to any one, he crept 
out of the cap-tent, and descended to where the ante- 
lope was tied. He unloosed it gently, and then led it 
forward to the light of the fire, where he sat down to 
admire the creature. 

After gazing upon it for some time with delight, he 
thought that Swartboy could not do otherwise than 
share his feelings ; and without more ado, he shook 
the Bushman awake. 

The latter had no great stomach for being roused 
out of sleep to look at an animal, hundreds of which 
he had eaten in his time. But Jan and Swartboy were 


Xittle Jan’s H&penture 


sworn friends, and the Bushman was not angry. He, 
therefore, indulged his young master in the fancy he 
had taken ; and the two sat for a while conversing 
about the pet. 

At length Swartboy proposed sleep. Jan would 
agree to this only upon the terms that Swartboy 
would allow him to sleep alongside of him. He would 
bring his blanket from the wagon, and would not 
trouble Swartboy by requiring part of the latter’s 
kaross. 

Swartboy objected at first ; but Jan urged that he 
had. felt cold in the wagon, and that was partly why 
he had come down to the fire. All this was sheer 
cunning in the little imp. But Swartboy could not 
refuse him anything, and at length consented. He' 
could see no harm in it, as there were no signs of rain. 

Jan then returned to the wagon, climbed noiselessly 
up, drew out his own blankets, and brought them to 
the fire. He then wrapped himself up, and lay down 
alongside of Swartboy, with the ourebi standing near, 
and in such a situation that he could still have his eyes 
upon it, even when lying. To secure it from wander- 
ing, he had fastened a strong rheim around its neck, 
the other end of which he had looped tightly upon his 
own wrist. 

He lay for some time contemplating his beautiful 
pet. But sleep at length overcame him, and the image 
of the ourebi melted before his eyes. 

191 


XTbe ;!6usb=:8o£5 


Beyond this Jan could tell little of what happened 
to him. He was awakened by a sudden jerking at his 
wrist, and hearing the antelope scream. But he had 
not quite opened his eyes, before he felt himself dragged 
violently over the ground. 

He thought at first it was Swartboy playing some 
trick upon him ; but as he passed the fire, he saw by 
its light that it was a huge black animal that had 
seized the ourebi, and was dragging both him and it 
along. 

Of course he then began to scream for help, and 
caught at everything he could to keep himself from 
being carried away. But he could lay hold of noth- 
ing, until he found himself among thick bushes, and 
these he seized and held with all his might. 

He could not have held out long against the strength 
of the hyena ; but it was just at that moment that 
Swartboy came up with his fire-brand, and beat off 
the ravisher with a shower of blows. 

When they got back to the light of the fire they 
found that Jan was all right. But the poor ourebi — 
it had been sadly mangled, and was now of no more 
value than a dead rat. 


192 


CHAPTER XXV. 


A CHAPTER UPON HYENAS. 

H YENAS are wolves — only wolves of a particu- 
lar kind. They have the same general hab- 
its as wolves, and much of their look. They have 
heavier heads, broader, thicker muzzles, shorter and 
stouter necks, and altogether a coarser and shaggier 
coat. One of the most characteristic marks of the 
hyena is the inequality in the development of its limbs. 
The hind-legs appear weaker and shorter than the fore 
ones, so that the rump is far lower than the shoul- 
ders ; and the line of the back, instead of being hori- 
zontal, as in most animals, droops obliquely towards 
the tail. 

The short, thick neck and strong jaws are charac- 
teristics ; the former so much so, that in the days of 
fabulous natural history the hyena was said to be with- 
out cervical vertebrae. Its thick neck and powerful 
jaw-bones have their uses. It is by virtue of these 
that the hyena can make a meal upon bones, which 
would be of no use whatever to the ordinary wolf or 
other beasts of prey. It can break almost the largest 


Ube J£usI>:Bo£3 


and strongest joints, and not only extract their mar- 
row, but crush the bones themselves, and swallow 
them as food. Here, again, we have proof of Nature’s 
adaptation. It is just where these large bones are 
found in greatest plenty that we find the hyena. 
Nature suffers nothing to be wasted. 

Hyenas are the wolves of Africa — that is, they are 
in Africa the representatives of the large wolf, which 
does not exist there. It is true the jackal is a -wolf 
in every respect, but only a small one ; and there is 
no true wolf in Africa of the large kind, such as the 
gaunt robber of the Pyrenees, or his twin brother of 
America. But the hyena is the wolf of Africa. 

And of all wolves he is the ugliest and most brute- 
like. There is not a graceful or beautiful bit about 
him. In fact, I was about to pronounce him the ugli- 
est animal in creation, when the baboons came into 
my mind. They of course exhibit the ne plus ultra of 
ugliness ; and, indeed, the hyenas are not at all un- 
like them in general aspect, as well as in some of 
their habits. Some early writers even classed them 
together. 

Now we have been speaking of the hyena, as if 
there was but one species. For a long time but one 
was known — the common or ‘ ‘ striped hyena ’ ’ {Hyena 
vulgaris ), and it was about this one that so many false 
stories have been told. Perhaps no other animal has 
held so conspicuous a place in the world of mystery 
194 


B Chapter upon Ib^enas 


and horror. Neither vampire or dragon have sur- 
passed him. Our ancestors believed that he could 
fascinate any one with his glance, lure them after him, 
and then devour them — that he changed his sex every 
year — that he- could transform himself into a comely 
youth, and thus beguile young maidens off into the 
woods to be eaten up — that he could imitate the human 
voice perfectly — that it was his custom to conceal him- 
self near a house, listen until the name of one of the 
family should be mentioned, then call out as if for 
assistance, pronouncing the name he had heard, and 
imitating the cries of one in distress. This would 
bring out the person called, who of course on reaching 
the spot would find only a fierce hyena ready to devour 
him ! 

Strange as it may seem, all these absurd stories were 
once very generally believed, and, strange as it may 
seem in me to say, not one of them but has some foun- 
dation. Exaggerated as they are, they all owe their 
origin to natural facts. At present I shall refer to only 
two of these. There is a peculiarity about the glance 
of the hyena that has given birth to the notion of his 
possessing the power to “charm” or fascinate, al- 
thpugh I never heard of his luring any one to destruc- 
tion by it ; there is a peculiarity about the animal’s 
voice that might well gain him credit for imitating the 
human voice, for the simple reason that the former 
bears a very near resemblance to the latter. I do not 
195 


Zhc 


say that the voice of the hyena is like the ordinary 
human voice, but there are some voices it does exactly 
resemble. I am acquainted with several people who 
have hyena voices . In fact, one of the closest imitations 
of a human laugh is that of the “spotted hyena.” No 
one can hear it, hideous as it is, without being amused 
at its close approximation to the utterance of a human 
being. There is a dash of the maniac in its tones, and 
it reminds me of the sharp metallic ring which I have 
noticed in the voices of negroes. I have already com- 
pared it to what I should fancy would be the laugh of 
a maniac negro. 

The striped hyena, although the best known, is in 
my opinion the least interesting of his kind. He is 
more widely distributed than any of his congeners. 
Found in most parts of Africa, he is also an Asiatic 
animal, is common enough throughout all the southern 
countries of Asia, and is even found as far north as the 
Caucasus and the Altai. He is the only species that 
exists in Asia. All the others are natives of Africa, 
which is the true home of the hyena. 

Naturalists admit but three species of hyena. I have 
not the slightest doubt that there are twice that number 
as distinct from each other as these three are. Five, 
at least, I know, without reckoning as hyenas either 
the ‘ ‘ wild hound ’ ’ of the Cape, or the little burrowing 
hyena ( proteles ) — both of which we shall no doubt 
meet with in the course of our hunting adventures. 

ig6 


a Chapter upon ibgenas 


First, then, we have the “striped” hyena already 
mentioned. He is usually of an ashy grey colour with 
a slight yellowish tinge, and a set of irregular strice, or 
stripes of black or dark brown. The.se are placed 
transversely to the length of his body, or rather 
obliquely, following nearly the direction of the ribs. 
They are not equally well defined or conspicuous in 
different individuals of the species. The hair — like 
that of all hyenas — is long, harsh, and shaggy, but 
longer over the neck, shoulders, and back, where it 
forms a mane. This becomes erect when the animal 
is excited. The same may be observed among dogs. 

The common hyena is far from being either strong 
or brave, when compared with the others of his kind. 
He is, in fact, the weakest and least ferocious of the 
family. He is sufficiently voracious, but lives chiefly 
on carrion, and will not dare attack living creatures of 
half his own strength. He preys only on the smallest 
quadrupeds, and with all his voracity he is an arrant 
poltroon. A child of ten years will easily put him to 
flight. 

A second species is the hyena which so much annoyed 
the celebrated Bruce while travelling in Abyssinia, and 
may be appropriately named “ Bruce’s hyena.” This 
is also a striped hyena, and nearly all naturalists have 
set him down as of the same species with the Hyena 
vulgaris. Excepting the “ stripes,” there is no resem- 
blance whatever between the two species ; and even 
197 


TTbe :*BusM6o£5 


these are differently arranged, while the ground colour 
also differs. 

Bruce’s hyena is nearly twice the size of the common 
kind — with twice his strength, courage, and ferocity. 
The former will attack not only large quadrupeds, but 
man himself, — will enter houses by night, even villages, 
and carry off domestic animals and children. 

Incredible as these statements may appear, about 
their truth there can be no doubt ; such occurrences 
are by no means rare. 

This hyena has the reputation of entering grave- 
yards, and disinterring the dead bodies to feed upon 
them. Some naturalists have denied this. For what 
reason ? It is well known that in many parts of Africa, 
the dead are not interred, but thrown out on the plains. 
It is equally well known that the hyenas devour the 
bodies so exposed. It is known, too, that the hyena 
is a “terrier” — a burrowing animal. What is there 
strange or improbable in supposing that it burrows to 
get at the bodies, its natural food ? The wolf does so, 
the jackal, the coyote, — aye, even the dog ! I have 
seen all of them at it on the battle-field. Why not the 
hyena ? 

A third species is very distinct from either of the 
two described — the “spotted hyena ” {Hyena crocutci). 
This is also sometimes called the “ laughing ” hyena, 
from the peculiarity we have had occasion to speak of. 
This species, in general colour, is not unlike the com- 

198 


B Chapter upon Ib^enas 


mon kind, except that, instead of stripes, his sides are 
covered with spots. He is larger than the Hyena 
vulgaris , and in character resembles Bruce’s, or the 
Abyssinian hyena. He is a native of the southern- 
half of Africa, where he is known among the Dutch 
colonists as the ‘ ‘ tiger- wolf ; ” while the common 
hyena is by them simply called “ wolf.” 

A fourth species is the ‘ ‘ brown hyena ’ ’ {Hyena 
villosa'). The name ‘ ‘ brown ” hyena is not a good one, 
as brown colour is by no means a characteristic of this 
animal. Hyena villosa , or “hairy hyena,” is better, 
as the long, straight hair falling down his sides gives 
him a peculiar aspect, and at once distinguishes him 
from any of the others. He is equally as large and 
fierce as any, being of the size of a St. Bernard mastiff ; 
but it is difficult to imagine how any one could mistake 
him for either a striped or spotted hyena. His colour 
is dark brown, or nearly black above, and dirty grey 
beneath. In fact, in general colour and the arrange- 
ment of his hair, he is not unlike a badger or 
wolverene. 

And yet many naturalists describe this as being of 
the same species as the common hyena — the learned 
De Blainville among the rest. The most ignorant 
boor of South Africa — for he is a South African ani- 
mal — knows better than this. Their very appellation 
of “ straand-wolf ” points out his different habits and 
haunts — for he is a sea-shore animal, and not even 
199 


Ube JBusb^o^s 


found in such places as are the favourite resorts of the 
common hyena. 

There is still another “brown hyena,” which differs 
altogether from this one, and is an inhabitant of the 
Great Desert. He is shorter-haired and of uniform 
brown colour, but like the rest in habits and general 
character. No doubt, w T hen the central parts of Africa 
have been thoroughly explored, several species of hy- 
ena will be added to the list of those already known. 

The habits of the hyenas are not unlike those of the 
larger wolves. They dwell in caves, or clefts of rocks. 
Some of them use the burrows of other animals for 
their lair, which they can enlarge for themselves — as 
they are provided with burrowing claws. 

They are not tree-climbers, as their claws are not 
sufficiently retractile for that. It is in their teeth their 
main dependence lies, and in the great strength of 
their jaws. 

Hyenas are solitary animals, though often troops of 
them are seen together, attracted by the common prey. 
A dozen or more will meet over a carcass, but each 
goes his own way on leaving it. They are extremely 
voracious ; will eat up almost anything — even scraps 
of leather or old shoes ! Bones they break and swallow 
as though these were pieces of tender flesh. They are 
bold, particularly with the poor natives, who do not 
hunt them with a view to extermination. They enter 
the miserable kraals of the natives, and often carry off 


200 


H Chapter upon Tbpenas 


their children. It is positively true that hundreds of 
children have been destroyed by hyenas in South 
Africa ! 

It is difficult for you to comprehend why this is 
permitted — why there is not a war of extermination 
carried on against the hyenas, until these brutes are 
driven out of the land. You cannot comprehend such 
a state of things, because you do not take into account 
the difference between savage and civilized existence. 
You will suppose that human life in Africa is held of 
far less value than it is in England ; but if you thor- 
oughly understood political science, you would discover 
that many a law of civilized life calls for its victims in 
far greater numbers than do the hyenas. The empty 
review, the idle court f£te, the reception of an emperor, 
all require, as their natural sequence, the sacrifice of 
many lives ! 


201 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS. 

ON BLOOM now reflected that the hyenas were 



likely to prove a great pest to him. No meat, 


nor anything would be safe from them — even his very 
children would be in danger, if left alone in the camp ; 
and no doubt he would often be compelled to leave 
them, as he would require the older ones upon his 
hunting excursions. 

There were other animals to be dreaded still more 
than the hyenas. Even during that night they had 
heard the roaring of lions down by the vley ; and when 
it was morning, the spoor showed that several of these 
animals had drunk at the water. 

How could he leave little Triiey — his dear little Triiey 
— or Jan, who was not a bit bigger — how could he 
leave them in an open camp while such monsters were 
roving about ? He could not think of doing so. 

He reflected what course he should pursue. At first 
he thought of putting up a house. That would neces- 
sarily be a work of time. There was no good building 
material convenient. A stone house would cost a great 


202 


H toouse among tbe Uree^tops 


deal of labour — as the stones would have to be carried 
nearly a mile, and in their hands too. That would 
never do, as Von Bloom might only remain a short 
while at that place. He might not find many elephants 
there, and of course would be under the necessity of 
going elsewhere. 

Why not build a log-house ? you will say. That 
would not be so much of a job, as part of the country 
was well wooded, and they had an axe. 

True, part of the country was wooded, but in a par- 
ticular manner. With the exception of the nwana- 
trees, that stood at long distances apart — and regularly, - 
as if they had been planted — there was nothing that 
deserved the name of timber. All the rest was mere 
“bush,” — a thorny jungle of mimosas, euphorbias, 
arborescent aloes, strelitzias, and the horrid zamia 
plants, beautiful enough to the eye, but of no utility 
whatever in the building of a house. The nwanas, of 
course, were too large for house-logs. To have felled 
one of them would have been a task equal almost to 
the building of a house ; and to have made planks of 
them would have required a steam saw-mill. A log- 
house was not to be thought of either. 

Now a frail structure of poles and thatch would not 
have given sufficient security. An angry rhinoceros, 
or elephant, would level such a house to the ground in 
a few moments. 

Suppose, too, that there were man-eaters in the 
203 


Uh e Busb^Bops 


neighbourhood. Swartboy believed that there were, 
^and that that region was notorious for them. As it 
was not far from Swartboy’ s native country, Von 
Bloom, who had reason to believe what the Bushman 
told him, was inclined to credit this. What protection 
would a frail house afford against the man-eater ? Not 
much, indeed. 

Von Bloom was puzzled and perplexed. He could 
not commence his hunting excursions until this ques- 
tion was settled. Some place must be prepared, where 
the children would be safe during his absence. 

While revolving the subject in his mind, he hap- 
pened to cast his eyes upward among the branches of 
the nwana-tree. All at once his attention became 
fixed upon those huge limbs, for they had awakened 
within him a strange memory. He remembered hav- 
ing heard that, in some parts of the country, and per- 
haps not very far from where he then was, the natives 
live in trees. That sometimes a whole tribe, of fifty or 
more, make their home in a single tree ; and do so to 
secure themselves against savage beasts, and sometimes 
equally savage men. That they build their houses 
upon platforms, which they erect upon the horizontal 
branches ; and that they ascend by means of ladders, 
which are drawn up after them at night when they go 
to rest. 

All this Von Bloom had heard, and all of it is posi- 
tively true. Of course the reflection occurred to him, 
204 


B Ibouse among tbe Uree^tops 


why could he not do the same ? Why could he not 
build a house in the gigantic nwana ? That would give 
him all the security he desired. There they could all 
sleep with perfect confidence of safety. There, on go- 
ing out to hunt, he could leave the children, with the 
certainty of finding them on his return. An admirable 
idea ! — how about its practicability ? 

He began to consider this. If he only had planks to 
make a staging or platform, the rest would be easy. 
Any slight roof would be sufficient up there. The 
leaves almost formed a roof. But the flooring — this 
was the difficulty. Where were planks to be got ? 
Nowhere, in that neighbourhood. 

His eye, at that moment, chanced to fall upon the 
wagon. Ha ! there were planks there. But to break 
up his beautiful wagon ? No — no — no ! Such a thing 
was not to be thought of. 

But stay ! there was no need to break it up — no need 
to knock out a single nail. It would serve every pur- 
pose without breaking a splinter off it. The fine 
vehicle was made to take to pieces, and put up again 
at will. 

He could take it to pieces. The broad bottom alone 
should remain whole. That of itself would be the 
platform . Hurrah ! 

The field-cornet, excited with the development of 
this fine plan, now communicated it to the others. All 
agreed that it was just the thing ; and as the day was 
205 


TTbe Busb^Bogs 


before them, they made no more ado, but set about 
carrying out the design. 

A ladder thirty feet long had first to be constructed. 
This occupied a good while ; but at length a stout 
rough article was knocked up, which served the pur- 
pose admirably. It gave them access to the lowermost 
limb ; and from this they could construct steps to all 
the others. 

Von Bloom ascended, and after careful examination 
chose the site of the platform. This was to rest upon 
two strong horizontal limbs of equal height, and di- 
verging very gradually from each other. The quantity 
of thick branches in the great tree afforded him a 
choice. 

The wagon was now taken to pieces — a work of only 
a few minutes — and the first thing hauled up was the 
bottom. This was no slight performance, and required 
all the strength of the camp. Strong “ rheims ” were 
attached to one end, and these were passed over a 
limb of the tree, still higher up than those on which 
the staging was to rest. One stood above to guide the 
huge piece of plank work, while all the rest exerted 
their strength upon the ropes below. Even little Jan 
pulled with all his might — though a single pound 
avoidupois weight would have been about the measure 
of his strength. 

The piece was hoisted up, until it rested beautifully 
upon the supporting limbs ; and then a cheer rose from 
206 


H Ibouse among tbe Uree^tops 


below, and was answered by Swartboy among tbe 
branches. 

The heaviest part of the work was over. The box- 
ing of the wagon was passed up, piece by piece, and 
set in its place just as before. Some branches were 
lopped off to make room for the cap-tent ; and then it 
was also hauled up and mounted. 

By the time the sun set, everything was in its place ; 
and the aerial house was ready for sleeping in. In 
fact, that very night they slept in it, or, as Hans jocu- 
larly termed it, they all went to “ roost.” 

But they did not consider their new habitation quite 
complete as yet. Next day they continued to labour 
upon it. By means of long poles they extended their 
platform from the wagon quite up to the trunk of the 
tree, so as to give them a broad terrace to move about 
upon. 

The poles were fast wattled together by rods of the 
beautiful weeping- willow ( Salix Babylonica ), which is 
a native of these parts, and several trees of which grew 
by the side of the vley. Upon the top of all, they laid 
a thick coating of clay, obtained from the edge of the 
lake ; so that, if need be, they could actually kindle a 
fire, and cook their suppers in the tree. 

To make a still finer flooring, they procured a 
quantity of the material of which the ant-hills are 
composed ; which, being of a glutinous nature, makes 
a mortar almost as binding as Roman cement. 


207 


Uhc 


After the main building had been finished off, Swart- 
boy erected a platform for himself, and one for Totty 
in another part of the ample nwana. Above each of 
these platforms he had constructed a roof or screen, to 
shelter their occupants from rain or dew. 

There was something odd in the appearance of these 
two screens, each of which was about the size of an 
ordinary umbrella. Their oddity consisted in the fact 
that they were ears of the elephant ! 


2CS 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


THE BATTEE OF THE WIED PEACOCKS. 

T HERE was no longer anything to hinder the 
field-cornet from commencing the real business 
of his new life, viz., the hunting of the elephant. He 
resolved, therefore, to begin at once; for until he 
should succeed in ‘ ‘ bagging ’ ’ a few of these giant 
animals, he was not easy in his mind. He might not 
be able to kill a single one ; and then what would be- 
come of all his grand hopes and calculations ? They 
would end in disappointment, and he should find him- 
self in as bad a condition as ever. Indeed worse : for 
to fail in any undertaking is not only to lose time, but 
energy of mind. Success begets genius, courage, and 
self-reliance — all of which contribute to new successes ; 
while failure intimidates and leads to despair. In a 
psychological point -of view it is a dangerous thing to 
fail in any undertaking ; and, therefore, before under- 
taking anything, one should be well assured of its 
being possible and practicable. 

Now Von Bloom was not sure that the great design 
he had formed was practicable. But in this case, he 


Uh e :J6usMSops 


had no choice. No other means of livelihood was 
open to him just then ; and he had resolved to make 
trial of this. He had faith in his calculations, and he 
had also good reason to hope he would succeed ; but 
the thing was yet untried. No wonder he was in haste 
to begin the business — in haste to know what were his 
chances of success. 

By early day, therefore, he was up and out. Hen- 
drik and Swartboy only accompanied him, for he 
could not yet bring himself to leave the children with 
no other protection than Totty — almost as much a 
child as themselves. Hans, therefore, remained by 
the camp. 

At first the hunters followed the little rivulet that 
ran from the spring and vley. They did so, because 
in this direction there was more “bush” ; and they 
knew that elephants would be more likely to be found 
in woods than in open places. Indeed, it was only 
near the banks of the stream that any great quantity 
of wood was to be seen. A broad belt of jungle ex- 
tended upon each side of it. After that, there were 
straggling groves and clumps ; and then came the 
open plains, almost treeless, though covered with a 
rich carpet of grass for some distance farther. To 
this succeeded the wild karoo, stretching eastward 
and westward beyond the reach of vision. Along 
the north, as already mentioned, trended the line of 
“bluffs” ; and beyond these there was nothing but 


210 


TLbc Battle of tbe WU& peacocks 


the parched and waterless desert. To the south there 
lay the only thing that could be called ‘ ‘ woods ; ’ ’ and 
although such a low jungle could lay no claim to the 
title of “ forest,” it was, nevertheless, a likely enough 
haunt for elephants. 

The trees consisted chiefly of mimosas — of several 
species ; upon the leaves, roots, and tender shoots of 
which the great ruminant loves to browse. There 
were some * ‘ camel-doorn ’ ’ trees, with their shady 
umbrella-like tops. But above all rose the massive 
heads of the nwanas, giving a peculiar character to 
the landscape. 

The hunters noticed, as they went on, that the 
channel of the rivulet became wider and larger and 
that at times — no doubt after rains — a large quantity 
of water must have run in its bed, forming a consider- 
able river. But as the channel grew larger, the reverse 
was the case with the quantity of running water. The 
farther down they proceeded this became less and less ; 
until, at the distance of a mile from camp, the current 
ceased altogether. 

For half-a-mile farther on they found water in stag- 
nant pools, but none running. The wide, dry channel, 
however, continued on as before ; and the ‘ ‘ bush ’ ’ 
extended on both sides without interruption, so thick 
that they could only make way by keeping in the 
channel itself. 

As they walked along, several kinds of small game 
21 1 


Zh e :JBusl>:JBo£S 


were started. Hendrik would gladly have taken a shot 
at some of these, but his father would not permit him 
to fire just then. It might frighten away the great 
“game” they were in search of, and which they 
might fall in with at any moment. On their return 
Hendrik might do his best ; and then the field-cornet 
intended to assist him in procuring an antelope, as 
there was no fresh venison in the camp. This, how- 
ever, was a consideration of secondary importance, and 
the first thing to be done was to try and get a pair of 
tusks. 

There was no objection to Swartboy using his bow, 
as that silent weapon would cause no alarm. Swart- 
boy had been taken along to carry the axe and other 
implements, as well as to assist in the hunt. Of course 
he had brought his bow and quiver with him ; and he 
was constantly on the watch for something at which to 
let fly one of his little poisoned arrows. 

He found a mark at length worthy of his attention. 
On crossing the plain to avoid a large bend in the 
channel, they came upon a glade or opening of con- 
siderable size, and in the middle of this glade a huge 
bird appeared standing erect. 

“An ostrich ! ” exclaimed Hendrik. 

“ No,” replied Swartboy ; “ um ar da pauw.” 

“Yes,” said Von Bloom, confirming Swartboy’s 
statement, “ it is the pauw.” 

Now a “ pauw” in the Dutch language is a “pea- 


212 


tXbe battle of tbe Mi 10 peacocks 


cock.” But there are no peacocks in Africa. The 
peacock in its wild state inhabits only Southern Asia 
and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The bird 
they saw, then, could not be a peacock. 

Neither was it one. And yet it bore some resem- 
blance to a peacock, with its long heavy tail and wings 
speckled and ocellated in a very striking manner, and 
something like the ‘ ‘ marbled ’ ’ feathers that adorn the 
peacock’s back. It had none of the brilliant colours, 
however, of that proudest of birds, though it was quite 
as stately, and much larger and taller. In fact, its 
great height and erect attitude was why Hendrik at 
first glance had taken it for an ostrich. It was neither 
peacock nor ostrich, but belonging to a different genus 
from either — to the genus Otis or bustard. It was the 
great bustard of South Africa — the Otis kori — called 
“pauw” by the Dutch colonists, on account of its 
ocellated plumage and other points of resemblance to 
the Indian peacock. 

Now Swartboy, as well as Von Bloom, knew that 
the pauw was one of the most delicious of fowls for 
the table. But they knew at the same time that it was 
one of the shyest of birds, — so shy that it is very diffi- 
cult to get even a long shot at one. How, then, was 
it to be approached within range of the Bushman’s 
arrow? That was the point to be considered. 

Where it stood, it was full two hundred yards from 
them ; and had it perceived them, it would soon have 
213 


Uhc 


widened that distance, by running off two hundred 
more. I say running off, for birds of the bustard fam- 
ily rarely take to wing, but use their long legs to 
escape from an enemy. On this account they are often 
hunted by dogs, and caught after a severe chase. Al- 
though but poor flyers, they are splendid runners, — 
swift almost as the ostrich itself. 

The pauw, however, had not observed the hunters 
as yet. They had caught a glimpse of it, before ap- 
pearing out of the bushes, and had halted as soon as 
they saw it. 

How was Swartboy to approach it? It was two 
hundred yards from any cover, and the ground was as 
clean as a new-raked meadow. True, the plain was 
not a large one. Indeed, Swartboy was rather sur- 
prised to see a pauw upon so small a one, for these birds 
frequent only the wide open karoos, where they can 
sight their enemy at a great distance. The glade was 
not large, but, after watching the bustard for some 
minutes, the hunters saw that it was resolved to keep 
near the centre, and showed no disposition to feed in 
the direction of the thicket on either side. 

Any one but a Bushman would have despaired of 
getting a shot at this kori ; but Swartboy did not 
despair. 

Begging the others to remain quiet, he crept forward 
to the edge of the jungle, and placed himself behind a 
thick leafy bush. He then commenced uttering a call, 
214 


Ube battle of tbe Mtlb peacocks 


exactly similar to that made by the male of the kori 
when challenging an adversary to combat. 

Like the grouse, the bustard is polygamous, and of 
course terribly jealous and pugnacious, at certain sea- 
sons of the year. Swartboy knew that it was just then 
the ‘ ‘ fighting season ’ ’ among the pauws, and hoped 
by imitating their challenge to draw the bird — a cock 
he saw it was — within reach of his arrow. 

As soon as the kori heard the call, he raised himself 
to his full height, and spread his immense tail, dropped 
his wings until the primary feathers trailed along the 
grass, and replied to the challenge. 

But what now astonished Swartboy was, that instead 
of one answer to his call, he fancied he heard two , 
simultaneously uttered ! 

It proved to be no fancy, for before he could repeat 
the decoy the bird again gave out its note of defi- 
ance, and was answered by a similar call from another 
quarter ! 

Swartboy looked in the direction whence came the 
latter ; and there, sure enough, was a second kori, that 
seemed to have dropped from the regions of the clouds, 
or, more likely, had run out from the shelter of the 
bushes. At all events, it was a good way towards the 
centre of the plain, before the hunter had observed it. 

The two were now in full view of each other ; and 
by their movements any one might see that a combat 
was certain to come off*. 


215 


Uhc $U3b*Bo£s 


Sure of this, Swartboy did not call again ; but re- 
mained silent behind his bush. 

After a good while spent in strutting, and wheeling 
round and round, and putting themselves in the most 
threatening attitudes, and uttering the most insulting 
expressions, the two koris became sufficiently provoked 
to begin the battle. They “clinched ” in gallant style, 
using all three weapons, — wings, beak, and feet. Now 
they struck each other with their wings, now pecked 
with their bills ; and at intervals, when a good oppor- 
tunity offered, gave each other a smart kick — which, 
with their long muscular legs, they were enabled to 
deliver with considerable force. 

Swartboy knew that when they were well into the 
fight, he might stalk in upon them unobserved ; so he 
waited patiently, till the proper moment should arrive. 

In a few seconds it became evident, he would not 
have to move from his ambush ; for the birds were 
fighting towards him. He adjusted his arrow to the 
string, and waited. 

In five minutes the birds were fighting within thirty 
yards of the spot where the Bushman lay. The twang 
of a bowstring might have been heard by one of the 
koris, had he been listening. The other could not pos- 
sibly have heard it ; for before the sound could have 
reached him, a poisoned arrow was sticking through 
his ears. The barb had passed through, and the shaft 
remained in his head, piercing it crosswise ! 

216 


TL\k JBattle ot tbe Mtlb peacocks 


Of course the bird dropped dead upon the grass, less 
astonished than his antagonist. 

The latter at first imagined he had done it, and began 
to strut very triumphantly around his fallen foe. 

But his eye now fell upon the arrow sticking through 
the head of the latter. He knew nothing about that. 
He had not done that ! What the deuce 

Perhaps if he had been allowed another moment’s 
reflection, he would have taken to his heels ; but before 
he could make up his mind about the matter, there 
was another “ twang ” of the bowstring, another arrow 
whistled through the air, and another kori lay stretched 
upon the grass. 

Swartboy now rushed forward, and took possession 
of the game ; which proved to be a pair of young cocks, 
in prime condition for roasting. 

Having hung the birds over a high branch, so as to 
secure them from the jackals and hyenas, the hunters 
continued on ; and shortly after, having re-entered the 
channel of the stream, continued to follow it downward. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


UPON THE “SPOOR.” 

T HEY had not gone above an hundred yards 
farther, when they came to one of the pools, 
already spoken of. It was a tolerably large one ; and 
the mud around its edges bore the hoof-prints of nu- 
merous animals. This the hunters saw from a dis- 
tance, but on reaching the spot, Swartboy a little in 
the advance, turned suddenly round, and, with rolling 
orbs and quivering lips, clicked out the words, — 

‘ ‘ Mein baas ! mein baas ! da klow ! spoor ob da 
groot olifont ! ’ ’ 

There was no danger of mistaking the spoor of the 
elephant for that of any other creature. There, sure 
enough, were the great round tracks — full twenty-four 
inches in length, and nearly as wide — deeply imprinted 
in the mud by the enormous weight of the animal’s 
body. Each formed an immense hole, large enough 
to have set a gate-post in. 

The hunters contemplated the spoor with emotions 
of pleasure — the more so that the tracks had been 
recently made. This was evident. The displaced mud 
218 


XHpon tbe 44 Spoor ” 


had not yet crusted, but looked damp and fresh. It 
had been stirred within the hour. 

Only one elephant had visited the pool that night. 
There were many old tracks, but only one fresh spoor, 
— and that of an old and very large bull. 

Of course the tracks told this much. To make a 
spoor twenty-four inches long, requires the animal to 
be a very large one ; and to be very large, he should 
be a bull, and an old one too. 

Well, the older and larger the better, provided his 
tusks have not been broken by some accident. When 
that happens they are never recovered again. The 
elephant does cast his tusks, but only in the juvenile 
state, when they are not bigger than lobster’s claws ; 
and the pair that succeeds these is permanent, and has 
to last him for life — perhaps for centuries — for no one 
can tell how long the mighty elephant roams over this 
sublunary planet. 

When the tusks get broken — a not uncommon thing 
— he must remain toothless or ‘ ‘ tuskless ’ ’ for the rest 
of his life. Although the elephant may consider the 
loss of his huge tusks a great calamity, were he only a 
little wiser, he would break them off against the first 
tree. It would, in all probability, be the means of 
prolonging his life ; for the hunter would not then 
consider him worth the ammunition it usually takes to 
kill him. 

After a short consultation among the hunters, Swart- 


219 


ftbe J6usb*4Bog3 


boy started off upon the spoor, followed by Von Bloom 
and Hendrik. It led straight out from the channel, 
and across the jungle. 

Usually the bushes mark the course of an elephant, 
where these are of the sort he feeds upon. In this case 
he had not fed ; but the Bushman, who could follow 
spoor with a hound, had no difficulty in keeping on 
the track, as fast as the three were able to travel. 

They emerged into open glades ; and, after passing 
through several of these, came upon a large ant-hill 
that stood in the middle of one of the openings. The 
elephant had passed close to the ant-hill — he had 
stopped there a while — stay, he must have lain down ! 

Von Bloom did not know that elephants were in the 
habit of lying down. He had always heard it said 
that they slept standing. Swartboy knew better than 
that. He said that they sometimes slept standing, but 
oftener lay down, especially in districts where they 
were not much hunted. Swartboy considered it a good 
sign that this one had lain down. He reasoned from 
it that the elephants had not been disturbed in that 
neighbourhood, and would be the more easily ap- 
proached and killed. They would be less likely to 
make off from that part of the country, until they — the 
hunters — had had a “ good pull ” out of them. 

This last consideration was one of great importance. 
In a district where elephants have been much hunted, 
and have learnt what the crack of a gun signifies, a 


220 


Xllpon the "Spoor” 


single day’s chase will often set them travelling ; and 
they will not bring up again, until they have gone far 
beyond the reach of the hunters. Not only the partic- 
ular individuals that have been chased act in this way ; 
but all the others, — as though warned by their com- 
panions, — until not an elephant remains in the district. 
This migratory habit is one of the chief difficulties 
which the elephant-hunter must needs encounter ; and, 
when it occurs, he has no other resource but to change 
his “ sphere of action.” 

On the other hand, where elephants have remained 
for a long time undisturbed, the report of a gun does 
not terrify them ; and they will bear a good deal of 
hunting before “ showing their heels ” and leaving the 
place. 

Swartboy, therefore, rejoiced on perceiving that the 
old bull had lain down. The Bushman drew a world 
of conclusions from that circumstance. 

That the elephant had been lying was clear enough. 
The abrasion upon the stiff mud of the ant-heap showed 
where his back had rested, — the mark of his body was 
visible in the dust, and a groove-like furrow in the 
turf had been made by his huge tusk. A huge one it 
must have been, as the impression of it testified to the 
keen eyes of the Bushman. 

Swartboy stated some curious facts about the great 
quadruped, — at least, what he alleged to be facts. 
They were, — that the elephant never attempts to lie 


221 


XTbe JBusb^o^s 


down without having something to lean his shoul- 
ders against, — a rock, an ant-hill, or a tree ; that he 
does this to prevent himself from rolling over on his 
back, — that when he does by accident get into that 
position he has great difficulty in rising again, and is 
almost as helpless as a turtle ; and, lastly, that he often 
sleeps standing beside a tree with the whole weight of 
his body leaning against the trunk ! 

Swartboy did not think that he leans against the 
trunk when first taking up his position ; but that he 
seeks the tree for the shade it affords, and as sleep 
overcomes him he inclines towards it, finding that it 
steadies and rests him ! 

The Bushman stated, moreover, that some elephants 
have their favourite trees, to which they return again 
and again to take a nap during the hot midday hours, 
— for that is their time of repose. At night they do 
not sleep, On the contrary, the hours of night are 
spent in ranging about, on journeys to the distant 
watering-places, and in feeding ; though in remote and 
quiet districts they also feed by day — so that it is prob- 
able that most of their nocturnal activity is the result 
of their dread of their watchful enemy, man. 

Swartboy communicated these facts, as the hunters 
all together followed the spoor. 

The traces of the elephant were now of a different 
character, from what they had been before arriving at 
the ant-hill. He had been browsing as he went. His 


222 


‘(Upon tbe “ Spoor” 


nap had. brought a return of appetite ; and the wait-a- 
bit thorns showed the marks of his prehensile trunk. 
Here and there branches were broken off, stripped 
clean of their leaves, and the ligneous parts left upon 
the ground. In several places whole trees were torn 
up by their roots, and those, too, of considerable size. 
This the elephant sometimes does to get at their foli- 
age, which upon such trees grows beyond the reach 
of his proboscis. By prostrating them of course he 
gets their whole frondage within easy distance of his 
elastic nose, and can strip it off at pleasure. At times, 
however, he tears up a tree to make a meal of its 
roots — as there are several species with sweet juicy 
roots, of which the elephant is extremely fond. 
These he drags out of the ground with his trunk, 
having first loosened them with his tusks, used as 
crowbars. At times he fails to effect his purpose ; 
and it is only when the ground is loose or wet, as after 
great rains, that he can uproot the larger kinds of 
mimosas. Sometimes he is capricious ; and, after 
drawing a tree from the ground, he carries it many 
yards along with him, flings it to the ground, root 
upwards, and then leaves it, after taking a single 
mouthful. Destructive to the forest is the passage 
of a troop of elephants ! 

Small trees he can tear up with his trunk alone, but 
to the larger ones he applies the more powerful lever- 
age of his tusks. These he inserts under the roots, 
223 


Uhc Busb^Boss 


imbedded as they usually are in loose sandy earth, and 
then, with a quick jerk, he tosses roots, trunk, and 
branches, high into the air, — a wonderful exhibition 
of gigantic power. 

The hunters saw all these proofs of it, as they fol- 
lowed the spoor. The traces of the elephant’s strength 
were visible all along the route. 

It was enough to beget fear and awe, and none of 
them were free from such feelings. With so much 
disposition to commit havoc and ruin in his moments 
of quietude, what would such a creature be in the 
hour of excitement and anger ? No wonder there was 
fear in the hearts of the hunters, unpractised as some 
of them were. 

Still another consideration had its effect upon their 
minds, particularly on that of the Bushman. There 
was every reason to believe that the animal was a 
“rover” ( rodeur ), — what among Indian hunters is 
termed a “rogue.” Elephants of this kind are far 
more dangerous to approach than their fellows. In 
fact, under ordinary circumstances, there is no more 
danger in passing through a herd of elephants than 
there would be in going among a drove of tame oxen. 
It is only when the elephant has been attacked or 
wounded, that he becomes a dangerous enemy. 

With regard to the “rover” or “rogue,” the case 
is quite different. He is habitually vicious ; and will 
assail either man or any other animal in sight, and 
224 


Xlipon tbe “ Spoor ” 


without the slightest provocation. He seems to take 
a pleasure in destruction, and woe to the creature who 
crosses his path and is not of lighter heels than 
himself ! 

The rover leads a solitary life, rambling alone through 
the forest, and never associating with others of his 
kind. He appears to be a sort of outlaw from his 
tribe, banished for bad temper or some other fault, 
to become more fierce and wicked in his outlawry. 

There were good reasons for fearing that the ele- 
phant they were spooring was a “ rover.” His being 
alone was of itself a suspicious circumstance, as 
elephants usually go, from two to twenty, or even 
fifty, in a herd. The traces of ruin he had left behind 
him, his immense spoor, all seemed to mark him out 
as one of these fierce creatures. That such existed 
in that district they already had evidence. Swartboy 
alleged that the one killed by the rhinoceros was of 
this class, else he would not have attacked the latter 
as he had done. There was a good deal of proba- 
bility in this belief of the Bushman. 

Under these impressions, then, it is less to be won- 
dered, that our hunters felt some apprehensions of 
danger from the game they were pursuing. 

The spoor grew fresher and fresher. The hunters 

saw trees turned bottom upward, the roots exhibiting 

the marks of the elephant’s teeth, and still wet with 

the saliva from his vast mouth. They saw broken 
15 


225 


ZTbe JBusb^JBo^s 


branches of the mimosas giving out their odour, that 
had not had time to waste itself. They concluded the 
game could not be distant. 

They rounded a point of timber — the Bushman being 
a little in the advance. 

Suddenly Swartboy stopped and fell back a pace. 
He turned his face upon his companions. His eyes 
rolled faster than ever ; but, although his lips appeared 
to move, and his tongue to wag, he was too excited 
to give utterance to a word. A volley of clicks and 
hisses came forth, but nothing articulate ! 

The others, however, did not require any words to 
tell them what was meant. They knew that Swartboy 
intended to whisper that he had seen “ da oliphant ; ” 
so both peeped silently around the bush, and with 
their own eyes looked upon the mighty quadruped. 


226 


CHAPTER XXIX. 


A ROGUE EUEPHANT. 

HE elephant was standing in a grove of mokhala 



trees. These, unlike the humbler mimosas, 


have tall naked stems, heads of thick foliage, in form 
resembling an umbrella or parasol. Their pinnate 
leaves of delicate green are the favourite food of the 
giraffe, hence their botanical appellation of Acacia 
giraffce ; and hence also their common name among 
the Dutch hunters of “ cameeldoorns ” (camel- thorns). 

The tall giraffe, with his prehensile lip, raised 
nearly twenty feet in the air, can browse upon these 
trees without difficulty. Not so the elephant, whose 
trunk cannot reach so high ; and the latter would 
often have to imitate the fox in the fable, were he not 
possessed of a means whereby he can bring the tempt- 
ing morsel, within reach — that is, simply by breaking 
down the tree. This his vast strength enables him to 
do, unless when the trunk happens to be one of the 
largest of its kind. 

When the eyes of our hunters first rested upon the 
elephant, he was standing by the head of a prostrate 


Zh e :ibusMSo£s 


mokhala, which he had just broken off near the root. 
He was tearing away at the leaves, and filling his 
capacious stomach. 

As soon as Swartboy recovered the control over his 
tongue, he ejaculated in a hurried whisper : — 

“ Pas op ! (take care !) baas Bloom, — hab good care 
— don’t go near um — he da skellum ole klow. My 
footy ! he wicked ! — I know de ole bull duyvel.” 

By this volley of queer phrases, Swartboy meant to 
caution his master against rashly approaching the ele- 
phant, as he knew him to be one of the wicked sort — 
in short, a “ rogue.” 

How Swartboy knew this would appear a mystery, 
as there were no particular marks about the animal to 
distinguish him from others of his kind. But the 
Bushman, with his practised eye, saw something in the 
general physiognomy of the elephant — just as one may 
distinguish a fierce and dangerous bull from those of 
milder disposition, or a bad from a virtuous man, by 
some expression that one cannot define. 

Von Bloom himself, and even Hendrik, saw that the 
elephant had a fierce and ruffian look. 

They did not stand in need of Swartboy ’s advice to 
act with caution. 

They remained for some minutes, gazing through 
the bushes at the huge quadruped. The more they 
gazed, the more they became resolved to make an 
attack upon him. The sight of his long tusks was too 
228 


H IRogue ^lepbant 


tempting to Von Bloom, to admit for a moment the 
thought of letting him escape without a fight. A 
couple of bullets he should have into him, at all 
events ; and if opportunity offered, a good many more, 
should these not be sufficient. Von Bloom would not 
relinquish those fine tusks without a struggle. 

He at once set about considering the safest mode of 
attack ; but was not allowed time to mature any plan. 
The elephant appeared to be restless, and was evidently 
about to move forward. He might be off in a moment, 
and carry them after him for miles, or, perhaps, in the 
thick cover of wait-a-bits get lost to them altogether. 

These conjectures caused Von Bloom to decide at 
once upon beginning the attack, and without any other 
plan than to stalk in as near as would be safe, and deliver 
his fire. He had heard that a single bullet in the fore- 
head would kill any elephant ; and if he could only 
get in such a position as to have a fair shot at the ani- 
mal’s front, he believed he was marksman enough to 
plant his bullet in the right place. 

He was mistaken as to killing an elephant with a 
shot in the forehead. That is a notion of gentlemen 
who have hunted the elephant in their closets, though 
other closet gentlemen anatomists — to whom give all 
due credit — have shown the thing to be impossible, 
from the peculiar structure of the elephant’s skull and 
the position of his brain. 

Von Bloom at the time was under this wrong im- 


229 


Ube ^Busb^SSogs 


pression, and therefore committed a grand mistake. 
Instead of seeking a side shot, which he could have 
obtained with far less trouble — he decided on creeping 
round in front of the elephant, and firing right in the 
animal’s face. 

Reaving Hendrik and Swartboy to attack him from 
behind, he took a circuit under cover of the bushes ; 
and at length arrived in the path the elephant was 
most likely to take. 

He had scarcely gained his position, when he saw 
the huge animal coming towards him with silent and 
majestic tread ; and although the elephant only walked, 
half-a-dozen of his gigantic strides brought him close 
up to the ambushed hunter. As yet the creature ut- 
tered no cry ; but as he moved, Von Bloom could hear 
a rumbling, gurgling sound, as of water dashing to 
and fro in his capacious stomach ! 

Von Bloom had taken up his position behind the 
trunk of a large tree. The elephant had not yet seen 
him, and, perhaps, would have passed on without 
knowing that he was there, had the hunter permitted 
him. The latter even thought of such a thing, for 
although a man of courage, the sight of the great for- 
est giant caused him for a moment to quail. 

But again, the curving ivory gleamed in his eyes — 
again he remembered the object that had brought him 
into that situation ; he thought of his fallen fortunes — 
of his resolve to retrieve them — of his children’s welfare. 


230 


B IRoaue Elephant 


These thoughts resolved him. His long roer was 
laid over a knot in the trunk — its muzzle pointed at 
the forehead of the advancing elephant — his eye 
gleamed through the sights — the loud detonation 
followed — and a cloud of smoke for a moment hid 
everything from his view. 

He could hear a hoarse bellowing trumpet-like 
sound — he could hear the crashing of branches and 
the gurgling of water; and, when the smoke cleared 
away, to his chagrin he saw that the elephant was 
still upon his feet, and evidently not injured in the 
least ! 

The shot had struck the animal exactly where the 
hunter had aimed it ; but, instead of inflicting a mortal 
wound, it had only excited the creature to extreme 
rage. He was now charging about, striking the trees 
with his tusks, tearing branches off, and tossing them 
aloft with his trunk — though all the while evidently in 
ignorance of what had tickled him so impertinently 
upon the forehead ! 

Fortunately for Von Bloom, a good thick tree shel- 
tered him from the view of the elephant. Had the 
enraged animal caught sight of him at that moment, 
it would have been all up with him ; but the hunter 
knew this, and had the coolness to remain close and 
quiet. 

Not so with Swartboy. When the elephant moved 
forward, he and Hendrik had crept after through the 


231 


TLhc BusfcBogs 


grove of mokhalas. They had even followed him 
across the open ground into the bush, where Von 
Bloom awaited him. On hearing the shot, and seeing 
that the elephant was still unhurt, Swartboy’s courage 
gave way ; and leaving Hendrik, he ran back towards 
the mokhala grove, shouting as he went. 

His cries reached the ears of the elephant, that at 
once rushed off in the direction in which he heard 
them. In a moment he emerged from the bush, and, 
seeing Swartboy upon the open ground, charged furi- 
ously after the flying Bushman. Hendrik — who had 
stood his ground, and in the shelter of the bushes was 
not perceived — delivered his shot as the animal passed 
him. His ball told upon the shoulder, but it only 
served to increase the elephant’s fury. Without stop- 
ping, he rushed on after Swartboy, believing, no doubt, 
that the poor Bushman was the cause of the hurts he 
was receiving, and the nature of which he but ill 
understood. 

It was but a few moments, from the firing of the 
first shot, until things took this turn. Swartboy was 
hardly clear of the bushes before the elephant emerged 
also; and as the former struck out for the mokhala 
trees, he was scarce six steps ahead of his pursuer. 

Swartboy’s object was to get to the grove, in the 
midst of which were several trees of large size. One 
of these he proposed climbing — as that seemed his 
only chance for safety. 

232 


H IRooue Blepbant 


He had not got half over the open ground, when he 
perceived he would be too late. He heard the heavy 
rush of the huge monster behind him — he heard his 
loud and vengeful bellowing — he fancied he felt his 
hot breath. There was still a good distance to be 
run. The climbing of the tree, beyond the reach of 
the elephant’s trunk, would occupy time. There was 
no hope of escaping to the tree. 

These reflections occurred almost instantaneously. 
In ten seconds Swartboy arrived at the conclusion, 
that running to the tree would not save him ; and all 
at once he stopped in his career, wheeled round, and 
faced the elephant ! 

Not that he had formed any plan of saving himself 
in that way. It was not bravery, but only despair, 
that caused him to turn upon his pursuer. He knew 
that, by running on, he would surely be overtaken. 
It could be no worse if he faced round ; and, perhaps, 
he might avoid the fatal charge by some dexterous 
manoeuvre. 

The Bushman was now right in the middle of the 
open ground ; the elephant rushing straight towards 
him. 

The former had no weapon to oppose to his gigantic 
pursuer. He had thrown away his bow — his axe too 
— to run the more nimbly. But neither would have 
been of any avail against such an antagonist. He 
carried nothing but his sheepskin kaross. That had 

233 


ZTbe Bnsb=35ops 


encumbered him in his flight ; but he had held on to it 
for a purpose. 

His purpose was soon displayed. 

He stood until the extended trunk was within three 
feet of his face ; and then, flinging his kaross so that it 
should fall over the long cylinder, he sprang nimbly to 
one side, and started to run back. 

He would, no doubt, have succeeded in passing to 
the elephant’s rear, and thus have escaped ; but as the 
kaross fell upon the great trunk it was seized in the 
latter, and swept suddenly around. Unfortunately 
Swartboy’s legs had not yet cleared the circle — the 
kaross lapped around them — and the Bushman was 
thrown sprawling upon the plain. 

In a moment the active Swartboy recovered his feet, 
and was about to make off in a new direction. But- 
the elephant, having discovered the deception of the 
kaross, had dropped it, and turned suddenly after him. 
Swartboy had hardty made three steps, when the long 
ivory curve was inserted between his legs from behind ; 
and the next moment his body was pitched high into 
the air. 

Von Bloom and Hendrik, who had just then reached 
the edge of the glade, saw him go up ; but to their 
astonishment he did not come to the ground again ! 
Had he fallen back upon the elephant’s tusks? and 
was he held there by the trunk ? No. They saw the 
animal’s head. The Bushman was not there, nor 
234 


H IRogue Btepbant 


upon his back, nor anywhere to be seen. In fact, the 
elephant seemed as much astonished as they at the 
sudden disappearance of his victim ! The huge beast 
was turning his eyes in every direction, as if searching 
for the object of his fury ! 

Where could Swartboy have gone ? Where ? At 
this moment the elephant uttered a loud roar, and 
was seen rushing to a tree, which he now caught 
in his trunk, and shook violently. Von Bloom and 
Hendrik looked up towards its top, expecting to see 
Swartboy there. 

Sure enough he was there, perched among the leaves 
and branches where he had been projected ! Terror 
was depicted in his countenance, for he felt that he 
was not safe in his position. But he had scarce time 
to give utterance to his fears ; for the next moment 
the tree gave way with a crash, and fell to the ground, 
bringing the Bushman down among its branches. 

It happened that the tree, dragged down by the 
elephant’s trunk, fell towards the animal. Swartboy 
even touched the elephant’s body in his descent, and 
slipped down over his hind-quarters. The branches 
had broken the fall, and the Bushman was still un- 
hurt, but he felt that he was now quite at the mercy 
of his antagonist. He saw no chance of escape by 
flight. He was lost ! 

Just at that moment an idea entered his mind — a 
sort of despairing instinct — and springing at one of 
235 


Ube JSusbsOBogs 


the hind-legs of the quadruped, he slung his arms 
around it, and held fast ! He at the same time 
planted his naked feet upon the sabots of those of the 
animal ; so that, by means of this support, he was 
enabled to keep his hold, let the animal move as it 
would ! 

The huge mammoth, unable to shake him off, un- 
able to get at him with his trunk — and, above all, 
surprised and terrified by this novel mode of attack — 
uttered a shrill scream, and with tail erect and trunk 
high in air, dashed off into the j ungle ! 

Swartboy held on to the leg until fairly within the 
bushes ; and then, watching his opportunity, he slipped 
gently off. As soon as he touched terra Jirma again, 
he rose to his feet, and ran with all his might in an 
opposite direction. 

He need not have run a single step ; for the elephant, 
as much frightened as he, kept on through the jungle, 
laying waste the trees and branches in his onward 
course. The huge quadruped did not stop, till he had 
put many miles between himself and the scene of his 
disagreeable adventure ! 

Von Bloom and Hendrik had by this time reloaded, 
and were advancing to Swartboy ’s rescue; but they 
were met right in the teeth by the swift-flying Bush- 
man, as he returned from his miraculous escape. 

The hunters, who were now warmed to their work, 
proposed to follow up the spoor ; but Swartboy, who had 
236 


H IRogue Blepbant 


had enough of that £ * old rogue, ’ * declared that there 
would be not the slightest chance of again coming up 
with him without horses or dogs ; and as they had 
neither, spooring him any farther would be quite 
useless. 

Von Bloom saw that there was truth in the remark, 
and now more than ever did he regret the loss of his 
horses. The elephant, though easily overtaken on 
horseback, or with dogs to bring him to bay, can as 
easily escape from a hunter on foot ; and once he has 
made up his mind to flight, it is quite a lost labour to 
follow him farther. 

It was now too late in the day to seek for other 
elephants ; and with a feeling of disappointment, the 
hunters gave up the chase, and turned their .steps in 
the direction of the camp. 


237 


CHAPTER XXX. 


THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE WIEDEBEESTS. 

A WEEE-KNOWN proverb says that “misfor- 
tunes seldom come single.” 

On nearing the camp, the hunters could perceive 
that all was not right there. They saw Totty with 
Triiey and Jan standing by the head of the ladder ; 
but there was something in their manner that told 
that all was not right. Where was Hans? 

As soon as the hunters came in sight, Jan and 
Triiey ran down the rounds, and out to meet them. 
There was that in their glances that bespoke ill tid- 
ings, and their words soon confirmed this conjecture. 

Hans was not there — he had gone away hours ago 
— they knew not where, they feared something had 
happened to him, — they feared he was lost ! 

‘ ‘ But what took him away from the camp ? ’ ’ asked 
Von Bloom, surprised and troubled at the news. 

That, and only that, could they answer. A number 
of odd-looking animals — very odd-looking, the chil- 
dren said, — had come to the vley to drink. Hans had 
taken his gun and followed them in a great hurry, 
238 


XTbe WUfcebeests 


telling Triiey and Jan to keep in the tree, and not 
come down until lie returned. He would be gone 
only a very little while, and they need n’t fear. 

This was all they knew. They could not even tell 
what direction he had taken. He went by the lower 
end of the vley ; but soon the bushes hid him from 
their view, and they saw no more of him. 

“ At what time was it ? ” 

It was many hours ago, — in the morning in fact, 
- — not long after the hunters themselves had started. 
When he did not return the children grew uneasy ; 
but they thought he had fallen in with papa and Hen- 
drik, and was helping them to hunt ; and that was the 
reason why he stayed so long. 

“ Had they heard any report of a gun ? ” 

No — they had listened for that, but heard none. 
The animals had gone away before Hans could get his 
gun ready ; and they supposed he had to follow some 
distance before he could overtake them — that might 
be the reason they had heard no shot. 

“ What sort of animals were they ? ” 

They had all seen them plain enough, as they 
drank. They had never seen any of the kind before. 
They were large animals of a yellow brown colour, 
with shaggy manes, and long tufts of hair growing 
out of their breasts, and hanging down between their 
fore-legs. They were as big as ponies, said Jan, and 
very like ponies. They curvetted and capered about 

239 


Uhc JBusb^ops 


just as ponies do sometimes. Triiey thought that 
they looked more like lions ! 

“ kions ! ” ejaculated her father and Hendrik, with 
an accent that betokened alarm. 

Indeed, they reminded her of lions, Triiey again 
affirmed, and Totty said the same. 

‘ ‘ How many were there of them ? ’ ’ 

“Oh! a great drove, not less than fifty.” They 
could not have counted them, as they were constantly 
in motion, galloping from place to place, and butting 
each other with their horns. 

“Ha! they had horns then?” interrogated Von 
Bloom, relieved by this announcement. 

Certainly they had horns, replied all three. 

They had seen the horns, sharp-pointed ones, which 
first came down, and then turned upwards in front of 
the animals’ faces. They had manes too, Jan affirmed ; 
and thick necks that curved like that of a beautiful 
horse ; and tufts of hair like brushes upon their 
noses ; and nice round bodies like ponies, and long 
white tails that reached near the ground, just like the 
tails of ponies, and finely-shaped limbs as ponies have. 

“I tell you,” continued Jan, with emphasis, “if it 
had n’t been for their horns and the brushes of long 
hair upon their breasts and noses, I’d have taken them 
for ponies before anything. They galloped about just 
like ponies when playing, and ran with their heads 
down, curving their necks and tossing their manes, — 
240 


tLbe MUbebeests 


aye, and snorting too, as I ’ve heard ponies ; but some- 
times they bellowed more like bulls ; and, I confess, 
they looked a good deal like bulls about the head ; 
besides I noticed they had hoofs split like cattle. Oh ! 
I had a good look at them while Hans was loading his 
gun. They stayed by the water till he was nearly 
ready ; and when they galloped off, they went in a 
long string one behind the other with the largest one 
in front, and another large one in the rear.” 

“ Wildebeests ! ” exclaimed Hendrik. 

“ Gnoos ! ” cried Swartboy. 

“Yes, they must have been wildebeests,” said Von 
Bloom; “Jan’s description corresponds exactly to 
them.” 

This was quite true. Jan had correctly given many 
of the characteristic points of that, perhaps, the most 
singular of all ruminant animals, the wildebeest or 
gnoo {Catoblepas gnoo ) . The brush-like tuft over the 
muzzle, the long hair between the fore-legs, the horns 
curving down over the face, and then sweeping abruptly 
upward, the thick curving neck, the rounded, compact, 
horse-shaped body, the long whitish tail, and full flow- 
ing mane — all were descriptive of the gnoo. * 

Even Triiey had not made such an unpardonable 
mistake. The gnoos, and particularly the old bulls, 
bear a very striking resemblance to the lion, so much 
so that the sharpest hunters at a distance can scarce 
tell one from the other. 

16 


241 


TLh e 3Busb=JBo^5 


Jan, however, had observed them better than Triiey ; 
and had they been nearer, he might have further noticed 
that the creatures had red fiery eyes and a fierce look ; 
that their heads and horns were not unlike those of the 
African buffalo : that their limbs resembled those of the 
stag, while the rest corresponded well enough to his 
“pony.” He might have observed, moreover, that 
the males were larger than the females, and of a deeper 
brown. Had there been any “ calves” with the herd, 
he would have seen that these were still lighter- 
coloured — in fact, of a white or cream colour. 

The gnoos that had been seen were the common 
kind called by the Dutch colonists ‘ * wildebeests ’ ’ or 
wild-oxen, and by the Hottentots “ gnoo” or “ gnu,” 
from a hollow moaning sound to which these creatures 
sometimes give utterance, and which is represented by 
the word “ gnoo-o-oo.” 

They roam in vast flocks upon the wild karoos of 
South Africa ; are inoffensive animals, except when 
wounded ; and then the old bulls are exceedingly 
dangerous, and will attack the hunter both with horns 
and hoof. They can run with great swiftness, though 
they scarce ever go clear off, but, keeping at a wary 
distance, circle around the hunter, curvetting in all 
directions, menacing with their heads lowered to the 
ground, kicking up the dust with their heels, and bel- 
lowing like bulls, or indeed like lions— for their “rout ” 
bears a resemblance to the lion’s roar. 


242 


Ube MUbebeests 


The old bulls stand sentry while the herd is feeding, 
and protect it both in front and rear. When running 
off they usually go in single file, as Jan had represented. 

Old bulls hang between the rear of the herd and the 
hunter ; and these caper back and forward, butting 
each other with their horns, and often fighting appar- 
ently in serious earnest ! Before the hunter comes 
within range, however, they drop their conflict and 
gallop out of his way. Nothing can exceed the capri- 
cious antics which these animals indulge in, while 
trooping over the plain. 

There is a second species of the same genus common 
in South Africa, and a third inhabits still farther to 
the north ; but of the last very little is known. 
Both species are larger than the wildebeest, individ- 
uals of either being nearly five feet in height, while 
the common gnoo is scarce four. 

The three kinds are quite distinct, and never herd 
together, though each of them is often found in com- 
pany with other animals. All three are peculiar to 
the continent of Africa, and are not found elsewhere. 

The “brindled gnoo” (Catoblepas gorgori) is the 
other species that inhabits the South of Africa. It is 
known among the hunters and colonists as “blauw 
wildebeest” (blue wild-ox). It is of a bluish colour 
—hence the name, and “brindled,” or striped along 
the sides. Its habits are very similar to those of the 
common gnoo, but it is altogether a heavier and 
243 


Zhc JBusbsOBoya 


duller animal, and still more eccentric and ungainly 
in its form. 

The third species ( Catoblepas taurina) is the ‘ ‘ ko- 
koon ” of the natives. It approaches nearer to the 
brindled gnoo in form and habits ; but as it is not 
found except in the more central and less- travelled 
portions of Africa, less is known about it than either 
of the others. It is, however, of the same kind ; and 
the three species, differing widely from any other 
animals known, are entitled to form a distinct and 
separate genus. 

They have hitherto generally been classed with the 
antelopes, though for what reason it is hard to tell. 
They have far less affinity with the antelope than with 
the ox ; and the everyday observations of the hunter 
and frontier boor have guided them to a similar con- 
clusion — as their name for these animals (wild-oxen) 
would imply. Observation of this class is usually 
worth far more than the ‘ ■ speculations 5 ’ of the closet- 
naturalist. 

The gnoo has long been the favourite food of the 
frontier farmer and hunter. Its beef is well flavoured, 
and the veal of a gnoo-calf is quite a delicacy. The 
hide is manufactured into harness and straps of differ- 
ent sorts ; and the long silky tail is an article of com- 
merce. Around every frontier farm-house large piles 
of gnoo and springbok horns may be seen — the remains 
of animals that have been captured in the chase. 


244 


MUfcebeests 


“Jaging de wildebeest” (hunting the gnoo) is a 
favourite pastime of the young boors. L,arge herds 
of these animals are sometimes driven into valleys, 
where they are hemmed in, and shot down at will. 
They can also be lured within range, by exhibiting a 
red handkerchief or any piece of red cloth — to which 
colour they have a strong aversion. They may be 
tamed and domesticated easily enough ; but they are 
not favourite pets with the farmer, who dreads their 
communicating to his cattle a fatal skin-disease to 
which the gnoos are subject, and which carries off 
thousands of them every year. 

Of course Von Bloom and his companions did not 
stay to talk over these points. They were too anxious 
about the fate of the missing Hans, to think of any- 
thing else. 

They were about to start out in search of him, when 
just at that moment my gentleman was seen coming 
around the end of the lake, trudging very slowly 
along, under the weight of some large and heavy 
object, that he carried upon his shoulders. 

A shout of joy was raised, and in a few moments 
Hans stood in their midst. 


245 


CHAPTER XXXI. 


THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA. 

ANS was saluted by a volley of questions, 



“Where have you been? What detained 


you? What has happened to you? You’re all safe 
and sound ? Not hurt, I hope ? ” These and a few 
others were asked in a breath. 

“I’m sound as a bell,” said Hans : “ and for the 
rest of your inquiries I ’ll answer them all as soon as 
Swartboy has skinned this ‘ aard-vark,’ and Totty has 
cooked a piece of it for supper ; but I ’m too hungry to 
talk now, so pray excuse me.” 

As Hans gave this reply, he cast from his shoulders 
an animal nearly as big as a sheep, covered with long 
bristly hair of a reddish-grey colour, and having 
a huge tail, thick at the root, and tapering like a 
carrot ; a snout nearly a foot long, but quite slender 
and naked ; a very small mouth ; erect pointed ears 
resembling a pair of horns ; a low flattish body ; short 
muscular legs ; and claws of immense length, espe- 
cially on the fore-feet, where, instead of spreading out, 
they were doubled back like shut fists, or the fore- 
hands of a monkey. Although a very odd animal 


246 


XTbe Hnt=Eater of Hfrtca 


was that which Hans had styled an “ aard-vark,” and 
which he desired should be cooked for supper. 

“Well, my boy,” replied Von Bloom, “we’ll 
excuse you, the more so that we are all of us about as 
hungry as yourself, I fancy. But I think we may 
as well leave the aard-vark for to-morrow’s dinner. 
We ’ve a couple of peacocks here, and Totty will get 
one of them ready sooner than the aard-vark.” 

“ As for that,” rejoined Hans, “ I don’t care which. 
I ’m just in the condition to eat anything — even a steak 
of tough old quagga, if I had it ; but I think it would 
be no harm if Swartboy — that is, if you ’re not too tired, 
old Swart — would just peel the skin off this gentle- 
man.” 

Hans pointed to the aard-vark. 

“And dress him so that he don’t spoil,” he con- 
tinued ; “for you know, Swartboy, that he’s a tit-bit 
— a regular bonne bouche — and it would be a pity to let 
him go to waste in this hot weather. An aard-vark ’s 
not to be bagged every day. ’ ’ 

“You spreichen true, Mynheer Hans, — Swartboy 
know all dat. Him skin an dress da goup.” 

And, so saying, Swartboy out knife, and set to work 
upon the carcass. 

Now this singular-looking animal which Hans called 
an “ aard-vark,” and Swartboy a “ goup,” was neither 
more nor less than the African ant-eater ( Oryderopus 
Capensis). 

247 


XTbe 3Busb^o\?s 


Although the colonists term it “ aard-vark,” which 
is the Dutch for “ ground-hog,” the animal has but 
little in common with the hog kind. It certainly bears 
some resemblance to a pig about the snout and cheeks ; 
and that, with its bristly hair and burrowing habits, 
has no doubt given rise to the mistaken name. The 
‘ ‘ ground ’ ’ part of the title is from the fact that it is a 
burrowing animal, — indeed, one of the best “ terriers” 
in the world. It can make its way under ground faster 
than the spade can follow it, and faster than any 
badger. In size, habits, and the form of many parts of 
its body, it bears a striking resemblance to its South 
American cousin the ‘ ‘ tamanoir ’ ’ ( Myrmecophaga 
jubata ), which of late years has become so famous 
as almost to usurp the title of “ ant-eater.” But the 
aard-vark is just as good an ant-eater as he, — can 
‘ ‘ crack ’ ’ as thick- walled a house, can rake up and 
devour as many termites as any “ant-bear” in the 
/ length and breadth of the Amazon Valley. He has 
got, moreover, as ‘ ‘ tall ’ ’ a tail as the tamanoir, very 
nearly as long a snout, a mouth equally small, and a 
tongue as extensive and extensile. In claws he can 
compare with his American cousin any day, and can 
walk just as awkwardly upon the sides of his fore-paws 
with “ toes turned in.” 

Why, then, may I ask, do we hear so much talk of 
the tamanoir, while not a word is said of the aard- 
vark ? Every museum and menagerie is bragging 
248 


Qftt Hnt=]£ater of Bfrica 


about having a specimen of the former, while not one 
cares to acknowledge their possession of the latter ! 
Why this envious distinction ? I say it ’s all Bamum. 
It ’s because the aard-vark ’s a Dutchman — a Cape 
boor — and the boors have been much bullied of late. 
That ’s the reason why zoologists and showmen have 
treated my thick-tailed boy so shabbily. But it shan’t 
be so any longer ; I stand up for the aard-vark ; and, 
although the tamanoir has been specially called Myrme- 
cophaga or ant-eater, I say that the Orycteropus is as 
good an ant-eater as he. He can break through ant- 
hills quite as big and bigger — some of them twenty 
feet high — he can project as long and as gluey a tongue 
— twenty inches long — he can play it as nimbly and 
‘ ‘ lick up ’ ’ as many white ants, as any tamanoir. 
He can grow as fat too, and weigh as heavy, and, what 
is greatly to his credit, he can provide you with a most 
delicate roast when you choose to kill and eat him. It 
is true he tastes slightly of formic acid , but that is just 
the flavour that epicures admire. And when you come 
to speak of “ hams,”— ah ! try his ! Cure them well 
and properly, and eat one, and you will never again 
talk of “Spanish” or “Westphalian.” 

Hans knew the taste of those hams — well he did, and 
so too Swartboy ; and it was not against his inclination, 
but con amove , that the latter set about butchering the 
“ goup.” 

Swartboy knew how precious a morsel he held 
249 


Ube ^Busb^o^s 


between his fingers, — precious, not only on account of 
its intrinsic goodness, but from its rarity ; for although 
the aard-vark is a common animal in South Africa, and 
in some districts even numerous, it is not every day the 
hunter can lay his hands upon one. On the contrarjq 
the creature is most difficult to capture ; though not to 
kill, for a blow on the snout will do that. 

But just as he is easily killed when you catch him, 
in the same proportion is he hard to catch. He is shy 
and wary, scarce ever comes out of his burrow but at 
night ; and even then skulks so silently along, and 
watches around him so sharply, that no enemy can 
approach without his knowing it. His eyes are very 
small, and, like most nocturnal animals, he sees but 
indifferently ; but in the two senses of smell and 
hearing he is one of the sharpest. His long erect ears 
enable him to catch every sound that may be made in 
his neighbourhood, however sfight. 

The aard-vark is not the only ant-eating quad- 
ruped of South Africa. There is another four-footed 
creature as fond of white ants as he ; but this is an 
animal of very different appearance. It is a creature 
without hair ; but, instead its body is covered all over 
with a regular coat of scales, each as large as a half- 
crown piece. These scales slightly overlie each other, 
and can be raised on end at the will of the animal. In 
form it resembles a large lizard, or a small crocodile, 
more than an ordinary quadruped, but its habits are 
250 


Ube Hnt>£ater of Hfrtca 


almost exactly like those of the aard-vark. It burrows, 
digs open the ant-hills by night, projects a long viscous 
tongue among the insects, and devours them with 
avidity. 

When suddenly overtaken, and out of reach of its 
underground retreat, it ‘ ‘ clews ’ ’ up like the hedge- 
hog, and some species of the South American arma- 
dillos — to which last animal it bears a considerable 
resemblance on account of its scaly coat of mail. 

This ant-eater is known as the “pangolin,” or 
‘ ‘ manis, ’ ’ but there are several species of ‘ ‘ pangolin ’ 9 
not African. Some are met with in Southern Asia 
and the Indian islands. That which is found in South 
Africa is known among naturalists as the ‘ ‘ long- 
tailed” or “Temminck” pangolin (Manis Temmin- 
ckit). 

Totty soon produced a roasted “ peacock,” or rather 
a hastily-broiled bustards * But, although, perhaps, not 
cooked “to a turn,” it was sufficiently well done to 
satisfy the stomachs for which it was intended. They 
were all too hungry to be fastidious, and, without a 
word of criticism, they got through their dinner. 

Hans then commenced relating the history of his 
day’s adventure. 


251 


CHAPTER XXXII. 


HANS CHASED BY THE WIEDEBEEST. 

E EE,” began Hans, “you had not been 



gone more than an hour, when a herd of 


wildebeests was seen approaching the vley. They 
came on in single file ; but they had broken rank, and 
were splashing about in the water, before I thought of 
molesting them in any way. 

“Of course I knew what they were, and that they 
were proper game ; but I was so interested in watching 
their ludicrous gambols, that I did not think about my 
gun, until the whole herd had nearly finished drinking. 
Then I remembered that we were living on dry bil- 
tongue, and would be nothing the worse of a change. 
I noticed, moreover, that in the herd of gnoos there 
were some young ones — which I was able to tell from 
their being smaller than the rest, and also by their 
lighter colour. I knew that the flesh of these is most 
excellent eating, and therefore made up my mind we 
should all dine upon it. 

“ I rushed up the ladder for my gun ; and then dis- 
covered how imprudent I had been in not loading it at 


Cbaseb b£ Mtlbebeest 


the time you all went away. I had not thought of any 
sudden emergency, — but that was very foolish, for how 
knew I what might happen in a single hour or minute 
even ? 

“ I loaded the piece in a grand hurry, for I saw the 
wildebeests leaving the water ; and, as soon as the 
bullet was rammed home, I ran down the ladder. 
Before I had reached the bottom, I saw that I had for- 
gotten to bring either powder-horn or pouch. I was in 
too hot a haste to go back for them, for I saw the last 
of the wildebeests moving off, and I fancied I might be 
too late. But I had no intention of going any great 
distance in pursuit. A single shot at them was all I 
wanted, and that in the gun would do. 

‘ ‘ I hastened after the game, keeping as well as I 
could under cover. I found, after a little time, that I 
need not have been so cautious. The wildebeests, 
instead of being shy — as I had seen them in our old 
neighbourhood — appeared to have very little fear of 
me. This was especially the case with the old bulls, 
who capered and careered about within an hundred 
yards’ distance, and sometimes permitted me to ap- 
proach even nearer. It was plain they had never been 
hunted. 

“ Once or twice I was within range of a pair of old 
bulls, who seemed to act as a rearguard. But I did 
not want to shoot one of them. I knew their flesh 
would turn out tough. I wished to get something 


253 


Uhc 3Busb*:JBo£S 


more tender. I wished to send a bullet into a heifer, 
or one of the young bulls whose horns had not yet 
begun to curve. Of these I saw several in the herd. 

“Tame as the animals were, I could not manage to 
get near enough to any of these. The old bulls at the 
head always led them beyond my range ; and the two, 
that brought up the rear, seemed, to drive them forward 
as I advanced upon them. 

“ Well, in this way they beguiled me along for more 
than a mile ; and the excitement of the chase made me 
quite forget how wrong it was of me to go so far from 
the camp. But thinking about the meat, and still 
hopeful of getting a shot, I kept on. 

“ At length the hunt led me into ground where there 
was no longer any bush ; but there was good cover, 
notwithstanding, in the ant-hills, that, like great tents, 
stood at equal distances from each other scattered over 
the plain. These were very large — some of them more 
than twelve feet high — and differing from the dome- 
shaped kind so common everywhere. They were of 
the shape of large cones, or rounded pyramids, with a 
number of smaller cones rising around their bases, and 
clustering like turrets along their sides. I knew they 
were the hills of a species of white ant called by ento- 
mologists Termes bellicosus. 

“ There were other hills, of cylinder shape and 
rounded tops that stood only about a yard high ; 
looking like rolls of unbleached linen set upright — 
254 


Cbaseb bv? MUbebeest 


each with an inverted basin upon its end. These were 
the homes of a very different species, the Termes mordax 
of the entomologists ; though still another species of 
Termes (7. atrox') build their nests in the same form. 

‘ ‘ I did not stop then to examine these curious struc- 
tures. I only speak of them now, to give you an idea 
of the sort of a place it was, so that you may under- 
stand what followed. 

“ What with the cone-shaped hills and the cylinders, 
the plain was pretty well covered. One or the other 
was met with -every two hundred yards ; and I fancied 
with these for a shelter I should have but little difficulty 
in getting within shot of the gnoos. 

“I made a circuit to head them, and crept up be- 
hind a large cone-shaped hill, near which the thick of 
the drove was feeding. When I peeped through 
the turrets, to my chagrin, I saw that the cows and 
younger ones had been drawn off beyond reach, and 
the two old bulls were, as before, capering between me 
and the herd. 

“ I repeated the manoeuvre, and stalked in behind 
another large cone, close to which the beasts were 
feeding. When I raised myself for a shot, I was again 
disappointed. The herd had moved off as before, and 
the brace of bulls still kept guard in the rear. 

‘ ‘ I began to feel provoked. The conduct of the bulls 
annoyed me exceedingly, and I really fancied that they 
knew it. Their manoeuvres were of the oddest kind, 
255 


Uhc Busb^lBops 


and some of them appeared to be made for the purpose 
of mocking me. At times they would charge up very 
close — their heads set in a menacing attitude ; and I 
must confess that with their black shaggy fronts, their 
sharp horns, and glaring red eyes, they looked any- 
thing but pleasant neighbours. 

* ‘ I got so provoked with them at last, that I resolved 
they should bother me no longer. If they would not 
permit me to shoot one of the others, I was determined 
they themselves should not escape scot-free, but should 
pay dearly for their temerity and insolence. I resolved 
to put a bullet through one of them, at least. 

“Just as I was about raising my gun to fire, I per- 
ceived that they had placed themselves in attitude for a 
new fight. This they did by dropping on their knees, 
and sliding forward until their heads came in contact. 
They would then spring up, make a sudden bound for- 
ward, as if to get uppermost, and trample one another 
with their hoofs. Failing in this, both would rush 
past, until they were several yards apart ; then wheel 
round, drop once more to their knees ; and advance as 
before. 

‘ ‘ Hitherto I had looked upon these conflicts as 
merely playful ; and so I fancy most of them were. 
But this time the bulls seemed to be in earnest. 
The loud cracking of their helmet-covered foreheads 
against each other, their fierce snorting and bellow- 
ing, and, above all, their angry manner, convinced me 
256 


Cbaseb b£ Milbebeest 


that they had really quarrelled, and were serious 
about it. 

“One of them, at length, seemed to be getting 
knocked over repeatedly. Every time he had partially 
risen to his feet, and before he could quite recover them, 
his antagonist rushed upon him, and butted him back 
upon his side. 

“ Seeing them so earnestly engaged, I thought I 
might as well make a sure shot of it, by going a little 
nearer; so I stepped from behind the ant-hill, and 
walked towards the combatants. Neither took any 
notice of my approach — the one because he had enough 
to do to guard himself from the terrible blows, and the 
other because he was so occupied in delivering them. 

“When within twenty paces I levelled my gun. 
I chose the bull who appeared victor, partly as a 
punishment for his want of feeling in striking a fallen 
antagonist, but, perhaps, more because his broadside 
was toward me, and presented a fairer mark. 

“ I fired. 

“The smoke hid both for a moment. When it 
cleared off, I saw the bull that had been conquered still 
down in a kneeling attitude, but, to my great surprise, 
the one at which I had aimed was upon his feet, appar- 
ently as brisk and sound as ever ! I knew I had hit 
him somewhere — as I heard the ‘ thud ’ of the bullet on 
his fat body — but it was plain I had not crippled him. 

“ I was not allowed time for reflection as to where I 
17 


257 


Ube Busb^Bcws 


had wounded him. Not an instant indeed, for the 
moment the smoke cleared away, instead of the bulls 
clearing off also, I saw the one I had shot at fling 
up his tail, lower his shaggy front, and charge right 
towards me ! 

‘ ‘ His fierce eyes glanced with a revengeful look, and 
his roar was enough to have terrified one more cour- 
ageous than I. I assure you I was less frightened the 
other day when I encountered the lion. 

“ I did not know what to do for some moments. I 
thought of setting myself in an attitude of defence, and 
involuntarily had turned my gun which was now empty 
— intending to use it as a club. But I saw at once, 
that the slight blow I could deliver would not stop the 
onset of such a strong fierce animal, and that he would 
butt me over, and gore me, to a certainty. 

‘ ‘ I turned my eyes to see what hope there lay in 
flight. Fortunately they fell upon an ant-hill — the one 
I had just emerged from. I saw at a glance, that by 
climbing it I would be out of reach of the fierce wilde- 
beest. Would I have time to get to it before he could 
overtake me ? 

“ I ran like a frightened fox. You, Hendrik, can 
beat me running upon ordinary occasions. I don’t 
think you could have got quicker to that ant-hill 
than I did. 

“ I was not a second too soon. As I clutched at the 
little turrets, and drew myself up, I could hear the rattle 
258 





HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST 






Gbaseb b£ TOUlbebeest 


of the wildebeest’ vS hoofs behind me, and I fancied I felt 
his hot breath upon my heels. 

‘ * But I reached the top cone in safety ; and then 
turned and looked down at my pursuer. I saw that he 
could not follow me any farther. Sharp as his horns 
were, I saw that I was safe out of their reach.” 


259 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 


BESIEGED BY THE BUEE. 

“ T T T EEL,” continued Hans, after a pause, “I 
V V began to congratulate myself on my fortu- 
nate escape ; for I was convinced that but for the ant-hill 
I would have been trampled and gored to death. The 
bull was one of the largest and fiercest of his kind, and 
a very old one too, as I could tell by the bases of his thick 
black horns nearly meeting over his forehead, as well as 
by his dark colour. I had plenty of time to note these 
things. I felt that I was now safe — that the wildebeest 
could not get near me ; and I sat perched upon the top 
of the central cone, watching his movements with 
perfect coolness. 

“It is true he did everything to reach my position. 
A dozen times he charged up the hill, and more than 
once effected a lodgment among the tops of the lower 
turrets, but the main one was too steep for him. No 
wonder ! It had tried my own powers to scale it. 

‘ ‘ At times he came so close to me in his desperate 
efforts, that I could have touched his horns with the 
muzzle of my gun ; and I had prepared to give him a 
260 


&esiegeb b£ tbe JSull 


blow whenever I could get a good chance. I never saw 
a creature behave so fiercely. The fact was, that I had 
hit him with my bullet, — the wound was there along 
his j aw, and bleeding freely. The pain of it maddened 
him ; but that was not the only cause of his fury, as I 
afterwards discovered. 

“ Well. After several unsuccessful attempts to scale 
the cone, he varied his tactics, and commenced butting 
the ant-heap as though he would bring it down. He 
repeatedly backed, and then charged forward upon it 
with all his might ; and, to say the truth, it looked for 
some time as though he would succeed. 

“ Several of the lesser cones were knocked over by 
his powerful blows ; and the hard tough clay yielded 
before his sharp horns, used by him as inverted pick- 
axes. In several places I could see that he had laid 
open the chambers of the insects, or rather the ways 
and galleries that are placed in the outer crust of the 
hill. 

‘ ‘ With all this I felt no fear. I was under the belief 
that he would soon exhaust his rage and go away ; and 
then I could descend without danger. But after watch- 
ing him a good long spell, I was not a little astonished 
to observe that, instead of cooling down, he seemed to 
grow more furious than ever. I had taken out my 
handkerchief to wipe the perspiration off my face. It 
was as hot as an oven where I sat. Not a breath of air 
was stirring, and the rays of the sun, glaring right down 


Uhc ®usb*OBoES 


and then reflecting up again from the white clay, 
brought the perspiration out of me in streams. Every 
minute I was obliged to rub my eyes clear of it with 
the handkerchief. 

“ Now, before passing the kerchief over my face, I 
always shook it open ; and each time I did so, I noticed 
that the rage of the wildebeest seemed to be redoubled ! 
In fact, at such times he would leave off goring the 
heap, and make a fresh attempt to rush up at me, roar- 
ing his loudest as he charged against the steep wall ! 

“I was puzzled at this, as well as astonished. 
What could there be in my wiping my face to provoke 
the wildebeest anew? And yet such was clearly the 
case. Every time I did so, he appeared to swell with 
a fresh burst of passion ! 

“The explanation came at length. I saw that it 
was not the wiping off the perspiration that provoked 
him. It was the shaking out of my handkerchief. 
This was, as you know, of a bright scarlet colour. I 
thought of this, and then, for the first time, remem- 
bered having heard that anything scarlet has a most 
powerful effect upon the wildebeest, and excites him 
to a rage resembling madness. 

‘ ‘ I did not wish to keep up his fury. I crumpled up 
the handkerchief and buried it in my pocket — prefer- 
ring to endure the perspiration rather than remain there 
any longer. By hiding the scarlet, I conceived a hope 
he would the sooner cool down, and go away. 

262 


Besleaeb tbe Bull 


‘ ‘ But I had raised a devil in him too fierce to be so 
easily laid. He showed no signs of cooling down. On 
the contrary, he continued to charge, butt, and bellow, 
as vengefully as ever — though the scarlet was no longer 
before his eyes. 

“ I began to feel really annoyed. I had no idea the 
gnoo was so implacable in his rage. The bull evi- 
dently felt pain from his wound. I could perceive that 
he moaned it. He knew well enough it was I who had 
given him this pain. 

‘ ‘ He appeared determined not to let me escape retri- 
bution. He showed no signs of an intention to leave 
the place ; but laboured away with hoof and horns, as 
if he would demolish the mound. 

“ I was growing very tired of my situation. Though 
not afraid that the bull could reach me, I was troubled 
by the thought of being so long absent from our camp. 

I knew I should have been there. I thought of my 
little sister and brother. Some misfortune might befall 
them. I was very sad about that, though up to that 
time I had little or no fears for myself. I was still in 
hopes the wildebeest would tire out and leave me, and 
then I could soon run home. 

“ I say, up to that time I had no very serious fears 
for myself — excepting the moment or two when the 
bull was chasing me to the hill ; but that little fright 
was soon over. 

“ But now appeared a new object of dread — another 
263 


Uhc iBusb^Bops 


enemy, as terrible as the enraged bull — that almost 
caused me to spring down upon the horns of the latter 
in my first moments of alarm ! 

“I have said that the wildebeest had broken down 
several of the lesser turrets — the outworks of the ant- 
hill — and had laid open the hollow spaces within. He 
had not penetrated to the main dome, but only the 
winding galleries and passages that perforate the outer 
walls. 

“ I noticed, that, as soon as these were broken open, 
a number of ants had rushed out from each. Indeed, I 
had observed many of the creatures crawling outside the 
hill, when I first approached it, and had wondered at 
this — as I knew that they usually keep under ground 
when going and coming from their nests. I had ob- 
served all this, without taking note of it at the time — 
being too intent in my stalk to think of anything else. 
For the last half-hour I was too busy watching the 
manoeuvres of the wildebeest bull, to take my gaze off 
him for a moment. 

“Something in motion directly under me at length 
caught my eye, and I looked down to see what it was. 
The first glance caused me to jump to my feet ; and, 
as I have already said, very nearly impelled me to leap 
down upon the horns of the bull ! 

“ Swarming all over the hill, already clustering upon 
my shoes, and crawling still higher, were the crowds of 
angry ants. Every hole that the bull had made was 
264 


Besleaeb by tbe Bull 


yielding out its throng of spiteful insects ; and all ap- 
peared moving towards me ! 

“ Small as the creatures were, I fancied I saw design 
in their movements. They seemed all actuated with 
the same feeling — the same impulse — that of attacking 
me. I could not be mistaken in their intent. They 
moved all together, as if guided and led by intelligent 
beings ; and they advanced towards the spot on which 
I stood. 

“I saw, too, that they were the soldiers. I knew 
these from the workers, by their larger heads and long 
horny mandibles. I knew they could bite fiercely and 
painfully. 

‘ ‘ The thought filled me with horror. I confess it, I 
never was so horrified before. My late encounter with 
the lion was nothing to compare with it. 

“ My first impression was that I would be destroyed 
by the termites. I had heard of such things — I remem- 
bered that I had. It was that, no doubt, that frightened 
me so badly. I had heard of men in their sleep being 
attacked by the white ants, and bitten to death. Such 
memories came crowding upon me at the moment, until 
I felt certain, that if I did not soon escape from that spot, 
the ants would sting me to death and eat me up /” 


265 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 


A HKLPIyESS bkast. 

“ T T 7 HAT was to be done ? How was I to avoid 
V V both enemies ? If I leaped down, the wilde- 

beest would kill me to a certainty. He was still there, 
with his fierce eye bent upon me continually. If I re- 
mained where I was, I would soon be covered with the 
swarming hideous insects, and eaten up like an old 
rag. 

“ Already I felt their terrible teeth. Those that had 
first crawled to my feet I had endeavoured to brush off ; 
but some had got upon my ankles, and were biting me 
through my thick woollen socks ! My clothes would 
be no protection. 

‘ ‘ I had mounted to the highest part of the cone, and 
was standing upon its apex. It was so sharp I could 
scarcely balance myself, but the painful stings of the 
insects caused me to dance upon it like a mountebank. 

‘ ‘ But what signified those, that had already stung 
my ankles, to the numbers that were likely soon to 
pierce me with their venomous darts ? Already these 
were swarming up the last terrace. They would soon 
266 


B Ibelpiess Beast 


cover the apex of the cone upon which I was stand- 
ing. They would crawl up my limbs in myriads — they 
would 

* ‘ I could reflect no longer on what they would do. 
I preferred taking my chance with the wildebeest. I 
would leap down. Perhaps some lucky accident might 
aid me. I would battle with the gnoo, using my gun. 
Perhaps I might succeed in escaping to some other hill. 
Perhaps 

“ I was actually on the spring to leap down, when a 
new thought came into my mind ; and I wondered I had 
been so silly as not to think of it before. What was to 
hinder me from keeping off the termites ? They had 
no wings — the soldiers have none — nor the workers 
neither, for that matter. They could not fly upon me. 
They could only crawl up the cone. With my jacket 
I could brush them back. Certainly I could — why did 
I not think of it before ? 

“ I was not long in taking off my jacket. I laid aside 
my useless gun, dropping it upon one of the lower ter- 
races. I caught the jacket by the collar ; and, using it 
as a duster, I cleared the sides of the cone in a few 
moments, having sent thousands of the termites tum- 
bling headlong below. 

‘ ‘ Pshaw ! how simply the thing was done ! why had 
I not done it before ? It cost scarcely an effort to brush 
the myriads away, and a .slight effort would keep them 
off as long as I pleased. 


267 


tlbe Busb*BoE$ 


“The only annoyance I felt now was from the few 
that had got under my trousers, and that still continued 
to bite me ; but these I would get rid of in time. 

“Well, I remained on the apex, now bending down 
to beat back the soldiers that still swarmed upward, and 
then occupying myself in trying to get rid of the few 
that crawled upon me. I felt no longer any uneasiness 
on the score of the insects — though I was not a bit 
better off as regarded the bull, who still kept guard 
below. I fancied, however, that he now showed symp- 
toms of weariness, and would soon raise the siege ; and 
this prospect made me feel more cheerful. 

“ A sudden change came over me. A new thrill of 
terror awaited me. 

“While jumping about upon the top of the cone, 
my footing suddenly gave way — the baked clay broke 
with a dead crash, and I sank through the roof. My 
feet shot down into the hollow dome — till I thought I 
must have crushed the great queen in her chamber — 
and I stood buried to the neck. 

“I was surprised, and a little terrified, not by the 
shock I had experienced in the sudden descent. That 
was natural enough, and a few moments would have 
restored my equanimity ; but it was something else 
that frightened me. It was something that moved 
under my feet as they ‘ touched bottom, — something 
that moved and heaved under them, and then passed 
quickly away, letting me still farther down ! 

268 


H Ifoelpless Beast 


“ What could it be ? Was it the great swarm of liv- 
ing ants that I pressed upon ? I did not think it was. 
It did not feel like them. It seemed to be something 
bulky and strong, for it held up my whole weight for 
a moment or two, before it slipped from under me. 

Whatever it was, it frightened me very consider- 
ably ; and I did not leave my feet in its company for 
five seconds’ time. No : the hottest furnace would 
scarce have scorched them during the time they re- 
mained inside the dark dome. In five seconds they 
were on the walls again — on the broken edges, where 
I had mounted up, and where I now stood quite 
speechless with surprise ! 

“What next? I could keep the ants off no longer. 
I gazed down the dark cavity ; they were swarming up 
that way in thick crowds. I could brush them down 
no more. 

“ My eyes at this moment chanced to wander to the 
bull. He was standing at three or four paces distance 
from the base of the hill. He was standing sideways 
with his head turned to it, and regarding it with a 
wild look. His attitude was entirely changed, and so, 
I thought, was the expression of his eye. He looked 
as if he had just run off to his new position, and was 
ready to make a second start. He looked as if some- 
thing had also terrified him ! 

“ Something evidently had ; for, in another moment, 
he uttered a sharp rout, galloped several paces farther 
269 


XL be 


out, wheeled again, halted, and stood gazing as be- 
fore ! 

‘ ‘ What could it mean ? Was it the breaking through 
of the roof and my sudden descent that had frightened 
him ? 

‘ ‘ At first I thought so, but I observed that he did 
not look upward to the top. His gaze seemed bent on 
some object near the base of the hill — though from 
where I stood I could see nothing there to frighten him. 

“ I had not time to reflect what it could be, before 
the bull uttered a fresh snort ; and, raising his tail 
high into the air, struck off at full gallop over the 
plain ! 

“ Rejoiced at seeing this, I thought no more of what 
had relieved me of his company. It must have been 
my curious fall, I concluded ; but no matter now that 
the brute was gone. So seizing hold of my gun, I 
prepared to descend from the elevated position, of 
which I was thoroughly tired. 

“ Just as I had got half down the side, I chanced to 
look below ; and there was the object that terrified the 
old bull. No wonder. It might have terrified anything, 
— the odd-looking creature that it was. From out a 
hole in the clay wall protruded a long naked cylindrical 
snout, mounted by a pair of ears nearly as long as 
itself, that stood erect like the horns of a steinbuck, 
and gave to ‘the animal that bore them a wild and 
vicious look. It would have badly frightened me, had 
270 


H Ibelpless Beast 


I not known what it was ; but I recognised it at once 
as one of the most inoffensive creatures in the world — 
the ‘aard-vark.’ 

‘ ‘ His appearance accounted for the retreat of the 
bull, and also explained why the ants had been crawl- 
ing about on my first reaching their hill. 

“Without saying a word, or making the slightest 
noise, I clubbed my gun ; and, bending downward, 
struck the protruded snout a blow with the butt. It 
was a most wicked blow ; and, considering the ser- 
vice the creature had just done me in frightening off 
the wildebeest, a most ungrateful return. But I was 
not master of my feelings at the moment. I did not 
reflect — only that I liked aard-vark flesh — and the blow 
was given. 

“ Poor fellow ! It did the job for him. With scarce 
a kick he dropped dead in the opening he had scraped 
with his own claws. 

“Well, my day’s adventures were not yet ended. 
They seemed as though they were never to end. I had 
got the aard-vark over my shoulders, and was about 
heading homeward, when, to my astonishment, I 
observed that the bull-gnoo — not the one that had be- 
sieged me, but his late antagonist — was still out upon 
the plain where I had last seen him ! I observed, 
moreover, that he was still in a sort of half-lying half- 
kneeling attitude, with his head close to the ground ! 

“ His odd movements seemed stranger than any- 


271 


Zhc 


thing else. I fancied he had been badly hurt by the 
other, and was not able to get away. 

‘ ‘ At first I was cautious about going near him — 
remembering my late narrow escape — and I thought 
of giving him a wide berth, and leaving him alone. 
Even though wounded, he might be strong enough to 
charge upon me ; and my empty gun, as I had already 
proved, would be but a poor weapon with which to 
defend myself. 

“I hesitated about going near him ; but curiosity 
grew strong within me, as I watched his queer manoeu- 
vres ; until at length I walked up within a dozen yards 
of where he was kneeling. 

“ Fancy my surprise on discovering the cause of his 
oblique movements. No hurt had he received of any 
kind — not even a scratch ; but for all that, he was as 
completely crippled as if he had lost his best pair of legs. 

“In a very singular manner was he rendered thus 
helpless. In his struggle with the other bull, one of 
his forelegs had, somehow or other, got passed over his 
horn ; and there it stuck — not only depriving him of 
the use of the limb itself, but holding his head so close 
to the ground that he was quite unable to stir from the 
spot ! 

“ At first I designed helping him out of his difficulty, 
and letting him go. On second thoughts, I remem- 
bered the story of the husbandman and the frozen 
snake, which quite changed my intention. 

272 


H Ibelpless Beast 


“I next thought of killing him for venison; but 
having no bullet, I did not like to beat him to death 
with my gun. Besides the aard-vark was my load to 
camp, and I knew that the jackals would eat the bull 
up before we could go back for him. I thought it 
probable he would be safer left as he was — as these 
ravenous brutes, seeing him alive, might not so readily 
approach him. 

“So I left him with his ‘head under his arm,’ in 
hopes that we may find him there to-morrow.” 

So ended Hans’s narrative of his day’s adventures. 

18 


273 


CHAPTER XXXV. 


the elephant’s sleeping-room. 

HE field-cornet was far from satisfied with his 



day’s work. His first attempt at elephant- 


hunting had proved a failure. Might it not be always 


so ? 


Notwithstanding the interest with which he listened 
to Hans’s narrative of the day’s adventures, he felt un- 
easy in his mind when he reflected upon his own. 

The elephant had escaped so easily. Their bullets 
seemed to have injured him not the least. They had 
only served to render him furious, and dangerous. 
Though both had hit him in places where their wounds 
1 should have been mortal, no such effect was produced. 
The elephant seemed to go off as unscathed, as if they 
had fired only boiled peas at him ! 

Would it be always so? 

True, they had given him but two shots. Two, if 
well directed, may bring down a cow-elephant and 
sometimes a bull, but oftener it requires ten times two 
before a strong old bull can be made to “bite the 


dust.” 


274 


ZTbe JElepbant’3 £leepmc}=1Room 


But would any elephant wait until they could load 
and fire a sufficient number of shots ? 

That was an undecided point with our tyro elephant- 
hunters. If not , then they would be helpless indeed. 
It would be a tedious business spooring the game afoot, 
after it had once been fired upon. In such cases the 
elephant usually travels many miles before halting 
again ; and only mounted men can with any facility 
overtake him. 

How Von Bloom sighed when he thought of his poor 
horses ! Now more than ever did he feel the want of 
them — now more than ever did he regret their loss. 

But he had heard that the elephant does not always 
make off when attacked. The old bull had shown no 
intention of retreating after receiving their shots. It 
was the odd conduct of Swartboy that had put him to 
flight. But for that, he would no doubt have kept the 
ground until they had given him another volley, and 
perhaps his death-wound. 

The field-cornet drew consolation from this last 
reflection. Perhaps their next encounter would have 
a different ending. Perhaps a pair of tusks would re- 
ward them. 

The hope of such a result, as well as the anxiety 
about it, determined Von Bloom to lose no time in 
making a fresh trial. Next morning, therefore, before 
the sun was up, the hunters were once more upon the 
trail of their giant game. 


275 


Zhc Busb*:JBo£s 


One precaution they had taken, which they had not 
thought of before. All of them had heard that an 
ordinary leaden bullet will not penetrate the tough 
thick skin of the great “pachyderm.” Perhaps this 
had been the cause of their failure on the preceding 
day. If so they had provided against the recurrence 
of failure from such a cause. They had moulded a new 
set of balls of harder material, — solder it should have 
been, but they had none. They chanced, however, to 
be in possession of what served the purpose equally well 
— the old ‘ ‘ plate ’ ’ that had often graced the field- 
cornet’s table in his better byegone days of the Graaf 
Reinet. This consisted of candlesticks, and snuffer- 
trays, and dish-covers and cruet-stands, and a variety 
of articles of the real “ Dutch metal.” 

Some of these were condemned to the alembic of the 
melting-pan ; and, mixed with the common .lead, pro- 
duced a set of balls hard enough for the hide of the 
rhinoceros itself — so that this day the hunters had no 
fears of failure upon the score of soft bullets. 

They went in the same direction as upon the preced- 
ing day, towards the forest or “ bush ” (bosch), as they 
termed it. 

They had not proceeded a mile when they came upon 
the spoor of elephants nearly fresh. It passed through 
the very thickest of the thorny jungle — where no crea- 
ture but an elephant, a rhinoceros, or a man with an 
axe, could have made way. A family must have passed, 
276 


XTbe Elephant's Sleeping^lftoom 


consisting of a male, a female or two, and several young 
ones of different ages. They had marched in single 
file, as elephants usually do ; and had made a regular 
lane several feet wide, which was quite clear of bushes, 
and trampled by their immense footsteps. The old bull, 
Swartboy said, had gone in advance, and had cleared 
the way of all obstructions, by means of his trunk and 
tusks. This had evidently been the case, for the 
hunters observed huge branches broken off, or still 
hanging and turned to one side, out of the way — just 
as if the hand of man had done it. 

Swartboy further affirmed, that such elephant-roads 
usually led to water ; and by the very easiest and shortest 
routes — as if they had been planned and laid open by 
the skill of an engineer — showing the rare instinct or 
sagacity of these animals. 

The hunters, therefore, expected soon to arrive at 
some watering-place ; but it was equally probable the 
spoor might be leading them from the water. 

They had not followed it more than a quarter of a 
mile, when they came upon another road of a similar 
kind, that crossed the one they were spooring upon. 
This had also been made by a number of elephants — a 
family most likely — and the tracks upon it were as 
recent as those they had been following. 

They hesitated for a moment which to take ; but at 
length concluded upon keeping straight on ; and so 
they moved forward as before. 

277 


Uhc 3$usb=:JBoES 


To their great disappointment the trail at last led out 
into more open ground, where the elephants had scat- 
tered about ; and after following the tracks of one, and 
then another without success, they got bewildered, and 
lost the spoor altogether. 

While casting about to find it in a place where the 
bush was thin and straggling, Swartboy suddenly ran 
off to one side, calling to the others to follow him. Von 
Bloom and Hendrik went after to see what the Bush- 
man was about. They thought he had seen an ele- 
phant, and both, considerably excited, had already 
pulled the covers off their guns. 

There was no elephant, however. When they came 
up with Swartboy, he was standing under a tree, and 
pointing to the ground at its bottom. 

The hunters looked down. They saw that the 
ground upon one side of the tree was trampled, as 
though horses or some other animals had been tied 
there for a long time, and had worn off the turf, and 
worked it into dust with their hoofs. The bark of the 
tree — a full-topped shady acacia — for some distance up 
was worn smooth upon one side, just as though cattle 
had used it for a rubbing-post. 

‘ ‘ What has done it ? ’ ’ asked the field-cornet and 
Hendrik in a breath. 

‘‘Da olifant’s slapen-boom ’ ’ (the elephant’s sleep- 
ing-tree), replied Swartboy. 

No further explanation was necessary. The hunters 
278 


Ube Blepbant's Sleepirtg^lRoont 


remembered what they had been told about a curious 
habit which the elephant has — of leaning against a tree 
while asleep. This, then, was one of the sleeping-trees 
of these animals. 

But of what use to them, farther than to gratify a 
little curiosity ? The elephant was not there. 

“ Da ole karl come again,” said Swartboy. 

“ Ha ! you think so, Swart? inquired Von Bloom. 

“ Ya, baas, lookee da ! spoor fresh — da groot olifant 
hab slap here yesterday.” 

‘ ‘ What then ? you think we should lie in wait, and 
shoot him when he returns. ’ ’ 

“ No, baas, better dan shoot, we make him bed — den 
wait see um lie down.” 

Swartboy grinned a laugh as he gave this piece of 
advice. 

4 ‘ Make his bed ! what do you mean ? ’ ’ inquired his 
master. 

“ I tell you, baas, we get da olifant sure, if you leave 
da job to ole Swart. I gib you de plan for take him, 
no waste powder, no waste bullet.” 

The Bushman proceeded to communicate his plan, to 
which his master — remembering their failure of yester- 
day — readily gave his consent. 

Fortunately they had all the implements that would 
be necessary for carrying it out, — a sharp axe, a strong 
rope or “ rheim ” of raw-hide, and their knives— and 
they set about the business without loss of time. 

279 


CHAPTER XXXVI. 


MAKING THB EMPH ANT’S BKD. 

O the hunters time was a consideration. If the 



elephant should return that day, it would be 


just before the hottest hours of noon. They had, there- 
fore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him — to ‘ ‘ make 
his bed, ’ ’ as Swartboy had jocosely termed it. So they 
went to work with alacrity, the Bushman acting as 
director-general, while the other two received their 
orders from him with the utmost obedience. 

The first work which Swartboy assigned to them 
was, to cut and prepare three stakes of hard wood. 
They were to be each about three feet long, as thick as 
a man’s arm, and pointed at one end. 

These were soon procured. The iron- wood ( Olea 
undulata) which grew in abundance in the neighbour- 
hood, furnished the very material ; and after three 
pieces of sufficient length had been cut down with the 
axe, they were reduced to the proper size, and pointed 
by the knives of the hunters. 

Meanwhile Swartboy had not been idle. First, with 
his knife he had cut a large section of bark from the 


flfcalnnG tbe 3Elepbant’s JBeb 


elephant’s tree, upon the side against which the animal 
had been in the habit of leaning, and about three feet 
from the ground. Then with the axe he made a deep 
notch, where the bark had been removed — in fact, such 
a notch as would have caused the tree to fall had it 
been left to itself. But it was not, for before advancing 
so far in his work, Swartboy had taken measures to 
prevent that. He had stayed the tree by fastening the 
rheim to its upper branches on the opposite side, and 
then carrying the rope to the limbs of another tree that 
stood out in that direction. 

Thus adjusted, the elephant’s tree was only kept 
from falling by the rheim-stay ; and a slight push, in 
the direction of the latter, would have thrown it over. 

Swartboy now replaced the section of bark, which he 
had preserved ; and after carefully collecting the chips, 
no one, without close examination, could have told 
that the tree had ever felt the edge of an axe. 

Another operation yet remained to be performed — 
that was the planting of the stakes, already prepared 
by Von Bloom and Hendrik. To set these firmly deep 
holes had to be made. But Swartboy was just the man 
to make a hole ; and in less than ten minutes he had 
sunk three, each over a foot deep, and not a half-inch 
wider than the thickness of the stakes ! 

You may be curious to know how he accomplished 
this. You would have dug a hole with the spade, and 
necessarily as w T ide as the spade itself. But Swartboy 
281 


TLhe 


had no spade, and would mot have used it if there had 
been one — since it would have made the holes too large 
for his purpose. 

Swartboy sunk his holes by “crowing ” — which pro- 
cess he performed by means of a small pointed stick. 
With this he first loosened the earth in a circle of the 
proper size. He then took out the detached mould, 
flung it away, and used the point of the “crowing 
stick” as before. Another clearing out of mould, 
another application of the stick ; and so on, till the 
narrow hole was deemed of sufficient depth. That was 
how Swartboy ‘ ‘ crowed ’ ’ the holes. 

They were sunk in a kind of triangle near the bottom 
of the tree, but on the side opposite to that where the 
elephant would stand, should he occupy his old ground. 

In each hole Swartboy now set a stake, thick end 
down and point upwards ; some small pebbles, and a 
little mould worked in at the sides, wedged them as 
firmly as if they had grown there. 

The stakes were now daubed over with soft earth, to 
conceal the white colour of the wood ; the remaining 
chips were picked up, and all traces of the work com- 
pletely obliterated. This done, the hunters withdrew 
from the spot. 

They did not go far ; but choosing a large bushy 
tree to leeward, all three climbed up into it, and sat 
concealed among its branches. 

The field-cornet held his long “ roer ” in readiness, 
282 


rt&afuna the Elephant's Beb 


and so did Hendrik his rifle. In case the ingenious 
trap of Swartboy should fail, they intended to use their 
guns, but not otherwise. 

It was now quite noon, and the day had turned out 
one of the hottest. But for the shade afforded by the 
leaves, they would have felt it very distressing. Swart- 
boy prognosticated favourably from this. The great 
heat would be more likely than anything else to send 
the elephant to his favourite sleeping-place under the 
cool shady cover of the cameeldoorn. 

It was now quite noon. He could not be long in 
coming, thought they. 

Sure enough he came, and soon, too. 

They had not been twenty minutes on their perch, 
when they heard a strange, rumbling noise, which they 
knew proceeded from the stomach of an elephant. The 
next moment they saw one emerge from the jungle, 
and walk, with sweeping step, straight up to the tree. 
He seemed to have no suspicion of any danger ; but 
placed himself at once alongside the trunk of the acacia 
— in the very position and on the side Swartboy had 
said he would take. From his spoor the Bushman 
knew he had been in the habit of so standing. 

His head was turned from the hunters, but not so 
much as to prevent them from seeing a pair of splendid 
tusks, — six feet long at the least. 

While gazing in admiration at these rich trophies, 
they saw the animal point his proboscis upward, and 
283 


Zhc Busb^Bops 


discharge a vast shower of water into the leaves, which 
afterwards fell dripping in bright globules over his 
body ! 

Swartboy said that he drew the water from his stom- 
ach. Although closet naturalists deny this, it must 
have been so ; for shortly after, he repeated the act 
again and again — the quantity of water at each dis- 
charge being as great as before. It was plain that his 
trunk, large as it was, could not have contained it all. 

He seemed to enjoy this “shower-bath ; ” and the 
hunters did not wonder at it, for they themselves, suf- 
fering at the time from heat and thirst, would have 
relished something of a similar kind. As the crystal 
drops fell back from the acacia leaves, the huge animal 
was heard to utter a low grunt expressive of gratifica- 
tion. The hunters hoped that this was the prelude to 
his sleep, and watched him with intense earnestness. 

It proved to be so. 

As they sat gazing, they noticed that his head sunk 
a little, his ears ceased their flapping, his tail hung 
motionless, and his trunk, now twined around his 
tusks, remained at rest. 

They gaze intently. Now they see his body droop 
a little to one side — now it touches the tree — there is 
heard a loud crack, followed by a confused crashing of 
branches — and the huge dark body of the elephant 
sinks upon its side. 

At the same instant a terrible scream drowns all 
284 


/I&afnno tbe Elephant's Eeb 


other sounds, causing the forest to echo, and the very 
leaves to quake. Then follows a confused roaring, 
mingled with the noise of cracking branches, and the 
struggles of the mighty brute where he lies kicking his 
giant limbs along the earth, in the agonies of death ! 

The hunters remain in the tree. They see that the 
elephant is down — that he is impaled. There will be 
no need for their puny weapons. Their game has 
already received the death- wound. 

The struggle is of short duration. The painful 
breathing that precedes death is heard issuing from 
the long proboscis ; and then follows a deep ominous 
silence. 

The hunters leap down, and approach the prostrate 
body. They see that it still lies upon the terrible 
chevaux de frise , where it had fallen. The stakes have 
done their work most effectively. The elephant breathes 
no more. He is dead ! 

vL* 

*7* 

It was the work of an hour to cut out those splendid 
tusks. But our hunters thought nothing of that ; and 
they were only the more pleased to find each of them a 
heavy load — as much as a man could carry ! 

Von Bloom shouldered one, Swartboy the other, 
while Hendrik loaded himself with the guns and im- 
plements ; and all three, leaving the carcass of the 
dead elephant behind them, returned triumphantly to 
camp. 


285 


CHAPTER XXXVII. 


THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA. 


OTWITHSTANDING the success of the day’s 



hunt the mind of Von Bloom was not at rest. 


They had “bagged” their game, it was true, but in 
what manner ? Their success was a mere accident, and 
gave them no earnest of what might be expected in the 
future. They might go long before finding another 
“sleeping-tree” of the elephants, and repeating their 
easy capture. 

Such were the not very pleasant reflections of the 
field-cornet, on the evening after returning from their 
successful hunt. 

But still less pleasant were they, two weeks later, at 
the retrospect of many an unsuccessful chase from 
which they had returned — when, after twelve days 
spent in “ j aging” the elephant, they had added only 
a single pair of tusks to the collection, and these the 
tusks of a cow-elepliant, scarce two feet in length, and 
of little value ! 

The reflection was not the less painful, that nearly 
every day they had fallen in with elephants, and had 


286 


XTbe Wilfc Hsses of Bt'rica 


obtained a shot or two at these animals. That did not 
mend the matter a bit. On the contrary, it taught the 
hunter how easily they could run away from him, as 
they invariably did. It taught him how small his 
chances were of capturing such game, so long as he 
could only follow it afoot. 

The hunter on foot stands but a poor chance with 
the elephant. Stalking in upon one is easy enough, 
and perhaps obtaining a single shot ; but when the 
animal trots off through the thick j ungle, it is tedious 
work following him. He may go miles before halting, 
and even if the hunter should overtake him, it may be 
only to deliver a second shot, and see the game once 
more disappear into the bushes — perhaps to be spoored 
no farther. 

Now the mounted hunter has this advantage. His 
horse can overtake the elephant ; and it is a peculiarity 
of this animal, that the moment he finds that his 
enemy, whatever it be, can do that thing, he disdains 
to run any farther, but at once stands to bay ; and 
the hunter may then deliver as many shots as he 
pleases. 

Herein lies the great advantage of the hunter on 
horseback. Another advantage is the security the 
horse affords, enabling his rider to avoid the charges 
of the angry elephant. 

No wonder Von Bloom sighed for a horse. No 
wonder he felt grieved at the want of this noble com- 
287 


XTbe aSusb=JBogs 


. panion, that would have aided him so much in the 
chase. 

He grieved all the more, now that he had become 
acquainted with the district, and had found it so full 
of elephants. Troops of an hundred had been seen ; 
and these far from being shy, or disposed to make off 
after a shot or two. Perhaps they had never heard the 
report of a gun before that of his own long roer pealed 
in their huge ears. 

With a horse the field-cornet believed he could 
have killed many, and obtained much valuable ivory. 
Without one, his chances of carrying out his design 
were poor indeed. His hopes were likely to end in 
disappointment. 

He felt this keenly. The bright prospects he had so 
ardently indulged in, became clouded over ; and fears 
for the future once more harassed him. He would only 
waste his time in this wilderness. His children would 
live without books, without education, without society. 
Were he to be suddenly called away, what would be- 
come of them ? His pretty Gertrude would be no bet- 
ter off than a little savage — his sons would become not 
in sport, as he was wont to call them, but in reality a 
trio of “Bush-boys.” 

Once more these thoughts filled the heart of the 
father with pain. Oh ! what would he not have 
given at that moment for a pair of horses, of any sort 
whatever ? 


288 


XTbe MU& Bsses of Htrica 


The field-cornet, while making these reflections, 
was seated in the great nwana-tree, upon the plat- 
form, that had been built on the side towards the lake, 
and from which a full view could be obtained of the 
water. From this point a fine view could also be ob- 
tained of the country which lay to the eastward of the 
lake. At some distance off it was wooded, but nearer 
the vley a grassy plain lay spread before the eye like a 
green meadow. 

The eyes of the hunter were turned outward on this 
plain, and just than his glance fell upon a troop of 
animals crossing the open ground, advancing towards 
the vley. 

They were large animals — nearly of the shape and 
size of small horses — and travelling in single file ; as 
they were, the troop at a distance presented something 
of the appearance of a “cafila,” or caravan. There 
were in all about fifty individuals in the line ; and they 
marched along with a steady sober pace, as if under 
the guidance and direction of some wise leader. How 
very different from the capricious and eccentric move- 
ments of the gnoos ! 

Individually they bore some resemblance to these 
last-named animals. In the shape of their bodies and 
tails, in their general ground colour, and in the “ brin- 
dled ’ ’ or tiger-like stripes that could be perceived 
upon their cheeks, neck, and shoulders. These stripes 
were exactly of the same form as those upon a zebra ; 


XTbe BusMSo^s 


but far less distinct, and not extending to the body 
or limbs, as is the case with the true zebra. In gen- 
eral colour, and in some other respects, the animals 
reminded one of the ass ; but their heads, necks, and 
the upper part of their bodies, were of darker hue, 
slightly tinged with reddish brown. In fact, the new- 
comers had points of resemblance to all four — horse, 
ass, gnoo, and zebra — and yet they were distinct from 
any. To the zebra they bore the greatest resemblance 
— for they were in reality a species of zebra — they were 
quag gas. 

Modern naturalists have divided the Equida , or 
horse family, into two genera — the horse ( equus ) and 
the ass ( asinus ) — the principal points of distinction 
being, that animals of the horse kind have long 
flowing manes, full tails, and warty callosities on 
both hind and fore limbs ; while asses, on the con- 
trary, have short, meagre, and upright manes, tails 
slender and furnished only with long hairs at the ex- 
tremity, and their hind limbs wanting the callosities. 
These, however are found on the fore-legs as upon 
horses. 

Although there are many varieties of the horse 
genus — scores of them, widely differing from each 
other — they can all be easily recognised by these char- 
acteristic marks, from the “ Suffolk Punch,” the great 
London drayhorse, down to his diminutive little cousin 
the ‘ ‘ Shetland Pony. ’ ’ 


290 


TTbe mtlb Esses ot Hfnca 


The varieties of the ass are nearly as numerous, 
though this fact is not generally known. 

First, we have the common ass (. Asinus vulgaris ), 
the type of the genus ; and of this there are many 
breeds in different countries, some nearly as elegant 
and as highly prized as horses. Next there is the 
“ onagra,” “ koulan,” or “wild ass” (A. onager ), 
supposed to be the origin of the common kind. This 
is a native of Asia, though it is also found in the 
northeastern parts of Africa. There is also the “ dzig- 
getai,” or “great wild-ass” ( A . hemionus ), of Cen- 
tral and Southern Asia, and another smaller species 
the “ghur” (A. Hamar) found in Persia. Again, 
there is the “ kiang ” (A. kiang') met with in Ladakh, 
and the “ yo-to-tze ” (A. equulus ), an inhabitant of 
Chinese Tartary. 

All these are Asiatic species, found in a wild state, 
and differing from one another in colour, size, form, 
and even in habits. Many of them are of elegant 
form, and swift as the swiftest horses. 

In this little book we cannot afford room for a de- 
scription of each, but must confine our remarks to what 
is more properly our subject — the wild asses of Africa. 
Of these there are six or seven kinds — perhaps more. 

First, there is the “wild ass” ( A . onager ), which, 
as already stated, extends from Asia into the north- 
eastern parts of Africa, contiguous to the former 
continent. 


291 


XTbe JBusb=36ov6 


Next there is the “koomrah,” of which very little 
is known, except that it inhabits the forests of North- 
ern Africa, and is solitary in its habits, unlike most of 
the other species. The koomrah has been described 
as a “wild horse,” but, most probably, it belongs to 
the genus asinus . 

Now there are four other species of “ wild asses ” in 
Africa — wild horses some call them — and a fifth re- 
ported by travellers, but as yet undetermined. These 
species bear such a resemblance to one another in their 
form, the peculiar markings of their bodies, size, and 
general habits, that they may be classed together 
under the title of the zebra family. First, there is the 
true zebra (. Eqzius zebra), perhaps the most beautiful of 
all quadrupeds, and of which no description need be 
given. Second, the “ dauw,” or “ Burchell’s zebra,” as 
it is more frequently called (. E . Buchellii). Third, the 
“congo dauw” (. E . hippotigris ), closely resembling 
the dauw. Fourth, the “quagga” ( E . qiiagga) ; and 
fifth, the undetermined species known as the “white 
zebra ” (. E . Isabellznus), so called from its pale yellow, 
or Isabella colour. 

These five species evidently have a close affinity with 
each other — all of them being more or less marked with 
the peculiar transversal bands or “ stripes,” which are 
the well-known characteristics of the zebra. Even the 
quagga is so banded upon the head and upper parts of 
its body. 


292 


TTbe Milt) Hsses of Hfrica 


The zebra proper is ‘ ‘ striped ’ ’ from the tip of the 
nose to its very hoofs, and the bands are of a uniform 
black, while the ground colour is nearly white, or white 
tinged with a pale yellow. The “dauws,” on the 
other hand, are not banded upon the legs ; the rays are 
not so dark or well defined, and the ground colour is 
not so pure or clean-looking. For the rest, all these 
three species are much alike ; and it is more than prob- 
able that either “Burchell’s” or the “congo dauw” 
was the species to which the name of “ zebra ” was 
first applied ; for that which is now called the * ‘ true 
zebra ’ ’ inhabits those parts of Africa where it was less 
likely to have been the first observed of the genus. At 
all events, the “congo dauw” is the “ hippotigris,” 
or tiger-horse, of the Romans ; and this we infer from 
its inhabiting a more northerly part of Africa than the 
others, all of which belong to the southern half of that 
continent. The habitat of the zebra is said to extend as 
far north as Abyssinia; but, perhaps, the “congo 
dauw,” which certainly inhabits Abyssinia, has been 
mistaken for the true zebra. 

Of the four species in South Africa, the zebra is a 
mountain animal, and dwells among the cliffs, while 
the dauw and quagga rove over the plains and wild 
karoo deserts. In similiar situations to these has the 
“white zebra” been observed — though only by the 
traveller Te Vaillant — and hence the doubt about its 
existence as a distinct species. 

293 


Ube Busb^Bops 


None of the kinds associate together, though each 
herds with other animals ! The quagga keeps com- 
pany with the gnoo, the “ dauw” with the “ brindled 
gnoo, ’ ’ while the tall ostrich stalks in the midst of the 
herds of both. 

There is much difference in the nature and disposi- 
tion of the different species. The mountain zebra is 
very shy and wild ; the dauw is almost untameable ; 
while the quagga is of a timid docile nature, and may 
be trained to harness with as much facility as a horse. 

The reason why this has not been done, is simply 
because the farmers of South Africa have horses in 
plenty, and do not stand in need of the quagga, either 
for saddle or harness. 

But though Von Bloom the farmer had never thought 
of ‘‘breaking in” a quagga, Von Bloom the hunter 
now did. 


294 


CHAPTER XXXVIII. 


PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE QUAGGAS. 

U P to this time the field-cornet had scarce deigned 
to notice the quaggas. He knew what they 
were, and had often seen a drove of them — perhaps the 
same one — approach the vley and drink. Neither he 
nor any of his people had molested them, though they 
might have killed many. They knew that the yellow 
oily flesh of these animals was not fit for food, and is 
only eaten by the hungry natives — that their hides, 
although sometimes used for grain-sacks and other 
common purposes, are of very little value. For these 
reasons, they had suffered them to come and go quietly. 
They did not wish to waste powder and lead upon 
them ; neither did they desire wantonly to destroy 
such harmless creatures. 

Every evening, therefore, the quaggas had drunk at 
the vley and gone off again, without exciting the slight- 
est interest. 

Not so upon this occasion. A grand design now oc- 
cupied the mind of Von Bloom. The troop of quaggas 
became suddenly invested with as much interest as if 
295 


TEbe JBusb^JBo^s 


it had been a herd of elephants ; and the field-cornet 
had started to his feet, and stood gazing upon them — 
his eyes sparkling with pleasure and admiration. 

He admired their prettily-striped heads, their plump 
well-turned bodies, their light elegant limbs ; in short, 
he admired everything about them, size, colour, and 
proportions. Never before had quaggas appeared so 
beautiful in the eyes of the vee-boor. 

But why this new-born admiration for the despised 
quaggas ? — for despised they are by the Cape farmer, 
who shoots them only to feed his Hottentot servants. 
Why had they so suddenly become such favourites 
with the field-cornet ? That you will understand by 
knowing the reflections that were just then passing 
through his mind. 

They were as follows : — 

Might not a number of these animals be caught and 
broken in ? — Why not ? Might they not be trained to 
the saddle ? — Why not ? Might they not serve him for 
hunting the elephant just as well as horses ? — Why not ? 

Von Bloom asked these three questions of himself. 
Half a minute served to answer them all in the affirma- 
tive. There was neither impossibility nor improbability 
in any of the three propositions. It was clear that the 
thing could be done, and without difficulty. 

A new hope sprang up in the heart of the field- 
cornet. Once more his countenance became radiant 
with joy. 


296 


planning tbe Capture 


He communicated his thoughts both to the Bushman 
and “Bush-boys” — all of whom highly approved of 
the idea, and only wondered that none of them had 
thought of it before. 

And now the question arose, as to how the quaggas 
were to be captured. This was the first point to be 
settled ; and the four, — Von Bloom himself, Hans, 
Hendrik, and Swartboy, — sat deliberately down to 
concoct some plan of effecting this object. 

Of course they could do nothing just then, and the 
drove that had come to drink was allowed to depart 
peaceful^ . The hunters knew they would return on 
the morrow about the same hour ; and it was towards 
their return that the thoughts of all were bent. 

Hendrik advised “creasing,” which means sending 
a bullet through the upper part of the neck near the 
withers, and by this means a quagga can be knocked 
over and captured. The shot, if properly directed, 
does not kill the animal. It soon recovers, and may 
be easily “broken,” though its spirit is generally 
broken at the same time. It is never “ itself again.” 
Hendrik understood the mode of “creasing.” He 
had seen it practised by the boor hunters. He knew 
the spot where the bullet should hit. He believed he 
could do it easily enough. 

Hans considered the ‘ ‘ creasing ’ ’ too cruel a mode. 
They might kill many quaggas before obtaining one 
that was hit in the proper place. Besides there would 
297 


XTbe 


be a waste of powder and bullets — a thing to be con- 
sidered. Why could they not snare the animals ? He 
had heard of nooses being set for animals as large 
as the quaggas, and of many being caught in that 
manner. 

Hendrik did not think the idea of snaring a good 
one. They might get one in that way — the foremost 
of the drove ; but all the others, seeing the leader 
caught, would gallop off and return no more to the 
vley ; and where would they set their snare for a sec- 
ond ? It might be a long time before they should find 
another watering-place of these animals ; whereas they 
might stalk and crease them upon the plains at any 
time. 

Swartboy now put in his plan. It was the pit-fall. 
That was the way by which Bushmen most generally 
caught large animals, and Swartboy perfectly under- 
stood how to construct a pit for quaggas. 

Hendrik saw objections to this, very similar to those 
he had urged against the snare. The foremost of the 
quaggas might be caught, but the others would not be 
fools enough to walk into the pit — after their leader 
had fallen in and laid the trap open. They of course 
would gallop off, and never come back that way again . 

If it could be done at night, Hendrik admitted, the 
thing might be different. In the darkness several 
might rush in before catching the alarm. But no — 
the quaggas had always come to drink in day-time — 
208 


planning tbe Capture 


one only could be trapped, and then the others alarmed 
would keep away. 

There would have been reason in what Hendrik 
said, but for a remarkable fact which the field-cornet 
himself had observed when the quaggas came to the , 
lake to drink. It was, that the animals had invariably 
entered the water at one point, and gone out at another. 
It was of course a mere accident that they did so, and 
owing to the nature of the ground ; but such was the 
case, and Von Bloom had observed it on several occa- 
sions. They were accustomed to enter by the gorge, 
already described ; and, after drinking, wade along 
the shallow edge for some yards, and then pass out by 
another break in the bank. 

The knowledge of this fact was of the utmost im- 
portance, and all saw that at once. A pit-fall dug 
upon the path by which the animals entered the lake, 
would no doubt operate as Hendrik said — one might 
be caught, and all the rest frightened off. But a simi- 
lar trap placed upon the trail that led outward, would 
bring about a very different result. Once the quaggas 
had finished drinking, and just at the moment they 
were heading out of the water, the hunters could show 
themselves upon the opposite side, set the troop in 
quick motion, and gallop them into the trap. By this 
means not only one, but a whole pit-full might be 
captured at once ! 

All this appeared so feasible that not another sug- 
299 


Xlbe JBusMBoes 


-gestion was offered — the plan of the pit-fall was at once, 
and unanimously adopted. 

It remained only to dig the pit, cover it properly, 
and then wait the result. 

During all the time their capture was being planned, 
the herd of quaggas had remained in sight, disporting 
themselves upon the open plain. It was a tantalizing 
sight to Hendrik, who would have liked much to have 
shown his marksman skill by “creasing” one. But 
the young hunter saw that it would be imprudent to 
fire at them there, as it would prevent them from re- 
turning to the vley ; so he restrained himself, and along 
with the others remained watching the quaggas — all 
regarding them with a degree of interest which they 
had never before felt in looking at a drove of these 
animals. 

The quaggas saw nothing of them, although quite 
near to the great nwana-tree. They — the hunters — 
were up among the branches, where the animals did 
not think of looking, and there was nothing around 
the bottom of the tree to cause them alarm. The 
wagon-wheels had long ago been disposed of in the 
bush, partly to shelter them from the sun, and partly 
because game animals frequently came within shot of 
the tree, and were thus obtained without any trouble. 
There were scarce any traces upon the ground that 
would have betrayed the existence of a “camp” in 
the tree ; and a person might have passed very near 
300 


planning tbe Capture 


without noticing the odd aerial dwelling of the hunter 
family. 

All this was design upon the part of the field-cornet. 
As yet he knew little of the country around. He did 
not know but that it might contain worse enemies than 
either hyenas or lions. 

While they sat watching the manoeuvres of the quag- 
gas, a movement was made by one of these creatures 
more singular than any that had yet been witnessed. 

The animal in question was browsing quietly along, 
and at length approached a small clump of bushes that 
stood but in the open ground. When close to the 
copse it was observed to make a sudden spring for- 
ward ; and almost at the same instant, a shaggy 
creature leaped out of the bushes, and ran off. This 
last was no other than the ugly ‘ ‘ striped ’ ’ hyena. 
Instead of turning upon the quagga and showing fight, 
as one might have supposed so strong and fierce a brute 
would have done, the hyena uttered a howl of alarm, 
and ran off as fast as its legs would carry it. 

They did not carry it far. It was evidently making 
for a larger tract of bush that grew near ; but before it 
had got half-way across the open ground, the quagga 
came up behind, and uttering his shrill ‘ ‘ couaag, 
reared forward, and dropped with his fore-hoofs upon 
the hyena’s back. At the same instant the neck of 
the carnivorous animal was clutched by the teeth of 
the ruminant and held as fast, as if grasped by a vice. 


301 


XTbe 


All looked to see the hyena free itself and run off 
again. They looked in vain. It never ran another 
yard. It never came alive out of the clutch of those 
terrible teeth. 

The quagga still held his struggling victim with firm 
hold — trampling it with his hoofs, and shaking it in 
his strong jaws, until in a few minutes the screams of 
the hyena ceased, and his mangled carcass lay motion- 
less upon the plain ! 

One would think that this incident might have been 
enough to warn our hunters to be cautious in their 
dealings with the quagga. Such a sharp biter would 
be no pleasant horse to “bit and bridle.” 

But all knew the antipathy that exists between the 
wild horse and the hyena ; and that the quagga, 
though roused to fury at the sight of one of these 
animals, is very different in its behaviour towards man. 
So strong, in fact, is this antipathy, and so complete is 
the mastery of the ruminant over the carnivorous 
animal, that the frontier farmer^ often take advantage 
of these peculiar facts, and keep the hyenas from their 
cattle by bringing up with the herd a number of quag- 
gas, who act as its guards and protectors ! 


302 


CHAPTER XXXIX. 


the pit-trap. 

W hite they were watching the movements of 
the quaggas, Von Bloom rose suddenly to his 
feet. All turned their eyes upon him as he did so. 
They saw by his manner that he was about to propose 
something. What could it be ? 

The thought had just occurred to him that they 
should at once set about digging the pit. 

It was near sunset — wanting only half-an-hour of it ; 
and one would suppose he would have done better to 
leave the work till next morning. But no. There 
was a good reason why they should set about it at once ; 
and that was, that they might not be able to complete 
it in time if they did not do part of it that night. 

It would be no slight undertaking to dig a pit of 
proper size, for they would require one that would at 
least hold half-a-dozen quaggas at a time. Then there 
was the carrying away the earth that should come out 
of it, the cutting the poles and branches to cover it, 
and the placing of these in a proper manner. 

To do all these things would take up a great deal of 


303 


Qhe Busb^JBops 


time ; and they must be all done against the return of 
the quaggas, else the whole scheme would be a failure. 
Should the animals arrive upon the ground before the 
pit was covered in and all traces of the work removed, 
they would make off without entering the water, and 
perhaps never visit that vley again. 

Such were the conjectures of the field-cornet. Hans, 
Hendrik, and Swartboy, acknowledged their justice. 
All saw the necessity of going to work at once, and to 
work they all went. 

Fortunately among the “ implements,” were two 
good spades, a shovel, and a pick-axe, and all of them 
could be busy at the same time. There were baskets 
in which the dirt could be carried off, and thrown 
into the deep channel close by, where it would not be 
seen. This was also a fortunate circumstance ; for to 
have carried the stuff any great distance, would have 
made the job still heavier, and more difficult to 
execute in proper time. 

Having marked the outlines of the pit, they went 
to work with spade, shovel, and pick. The ground 
proved tolerably loose, and the pick was but little 
needed. The field-cornet himself handled one of the 
spades, Hendrik the other, while Swartboy acted as 
shoveller, and filled the baskets as fast as Hans and 
Totty, assisted by Triiey and little Jan, could empty 
them. These last carried a small basket of their own, 
and contributed very materially to the progress of the 
304 


Ube flMt>Urap 


work, by lightening the labours of Hans and Totty. 

And so the work went merrily on until midnight, 
and even after that hour, under the light of a full 
moon ; by which time the diggers were buried to 
their necks. 

But they were now fatigued. They knew they 
could easily complete the pit next day ; and so they 
laid down their implements, and after performing 
their ablutions in the crystal water of the stream, 
retired to their sleeping-quarters in the tree. 

By early dawn they were at it again, busy as bees ; 
and the pit progressed so rapidly that before they 
stopped to take breakfast, Von Bloom could scarce 
see out of it standing on his toes, and the crown of 
Swartboy’s woolly head was nearly two feet below the 
surface. A little more digging would do. 

After breakfast they went to work as briskly as 
ever ; and laboured away until they considered that 
the hole was sunk to a sufficient depth. It would 
have taken a springbok to have leaped out of it ; and 
no quagga could possibly have cleared itself from such 
a pit. 

Poles and bushes were now cut ; and the pit was 
neatly covered with these, and strewed over, as well 
as a large tract of the adjoining ground, with rushes 
and grass. The most sagacious animal would have 
been deceived by the appearance, even a fox could not 
have discovered the trap before tumbling into it. 

20 305 


ZTbe JSusbsOBogs 


They had completed the work before going to din- 
ner, — which, consequently, fell late on that day — so 
nothing more remained to be done but to dine, and 
await the coming of the quaggas. 

At dinner they were all very merry, notwithstand- 
ing the immense fatigue they had gone through. The 
prospect of capturing the quaggas was very exciting, 
and kept the party in high spirits. 

Each offered a prognostication as to the result. 
Some said they would trap three quaggas at the 
least ; while others were more sanguine, and believed 
they might take twice that number. Jan did not see 
why the pit should not be full ; and Hendrik thought 
this probable enough — considering the way they in- 
tended to drive the quaggas into it. 

It certainly seemed so. The pit had been made of 
sufficient width to preclude the possibility of the ani- 
mals leaping over it, while it was dug lengthwise 
across the path, so that they could not miss it. The 
lay of the ground would guide them directly into it. 

It is true that, were they to be left to themselves, 
and permitted to follow their usual method of march- 
ing — that is, in single file — only one, the leader might 
be caught. The rest, seeing him fall in, would be 
sure to wheel round, and gallop off in a different 
direction. 

But it was not the intention of the hunters to leave 
things thus. They had planned a way by which the 
306 


Xlbe piMErap 


quaggas, at a certain moment, would be thrown into 
a complete panic, and thus forced pell-mell upon the 
pit. In this lay their hopes of securing a large number 
of the animals. 

Four was as many as were wanted. One for each 
of the hunters. Four would do ; but of course it 
mattered not how many more got into the pit. The 
more the better, as a large number would give them 
the advantage of “ pick and choose.” 

Dinner over, the hunters set about preparing for 
the reception of their expected visitors. As already 
stated, the dinner had been later than usual ; and it 
was now near the hour when the quaggas might be 
looked for. 

In order to be in time, each took his station. Hans, 
Hendrik, and Swartboy, placed themselves in ambush 
around the lake — at intervals from one another ; but 
the lower end, where the animals usually approached 
and went out, was left quite open. Von Bloom 
remained on the platform in the tree, so as to mark 
the approach of the quaggas, and give warning by a 
signal to the other three. The positions taken by 
these were such, that they could guide the herd in 
the direction of the pit, by merely coming out of the 
bushes where they lay concealed. In order that they 
should show themselves simultaneously, and at the 
proper moment, they were to wait for a signal from 
the tree. This was to be the firing of the great 
307 


Ube JSusb^JBo^s 


“roer,” loaded blank. Hans and Hendrik were also 
to fire blank shots on discovering themselves, and by 
this means the desired panic would be produced. 

The whole scheme was well contrived, and suc- 
ceeded admirably^ The herd appeared filing over 
the plain, just as on the preceding days. Von Bloom 
announced their approach to the three in ambush, by 
repeating in a subdued tone the words, — 

“ Quaggas are coming ! ” 

The unsuspecting animals filed through the gorge, 
scattered about in the water, drank their fill, and 
then commenced retiring by the path on which lay 
the trap. 

The leader having climbed the bank, and seeing 
the fresh grass and rushes strewed upon the path, 
uttered a snorting bark, and seemed half inclined 
to wheel round. But just at that moment boomed 
the loud detonation of the roer ; and, then, like lesser 
echoes, the reports of the smaller guns on the right 
and left, while Swartboy shouted at the top pitch of 
his voice, from another quarter. 

A look back showed the quaggas that they were 
well-nigh surrounded by strange enemies. But one 
course appeared open to them — the way the}’ - were 
wont to go ; and barking with affright, the whole 
drove dashed up the bank, and crowded on towards 
the pit. 

Then was heard a confused noise — the cracking of 
308 


tlbe flMtVftrap 


the poles — the trampling of many hoofs — the dull 
sounds of heavy bodies falling together, and mingling 
in a continuous struggle — and the wild snorting, as 
the creatures hurried forward in affright. Some were 
seen springing high in the air, as if to overleap the pit. 
Others poised themselves on their hind hoofs, and 
wheeling round, ran back into the lake. Some dashed 
off through the bushes, and escaped in that way ; but 
the great body of the drove came running back, and 
plunging through the water, made off by the gorge 
through which they had come. In a few minutes not 
one was in sight. 

The boys thought they had all escaped ; but Von 
Bloom, from his more elevated position in the tree, 
could perceive the snouts of several protruding above 
the edge of the pit. 

On arriving at the spot, to their great satisfaction 
the hunters discovered no less than eight full-grown 
quaggas in the trap— just twice the number required 
to mount the party. 

* * * * * * 

In less than two weeks from that time, four of the 
quaggas were broken to the saddle, and perfectly obe- 
dient to the bit. Of course there was a good deal of 
kicking, and plunging, and flinging, and many hard 
gallops, and some ugly falls, before it came to this ; 
but both the Bushman Swartboy and the Bush-boy 
309 


tlbe :Busb*:Bo£S 


Hendrik were expert in the manage of horses, and 
soon tamed the quaggas to a proper degree of docility. 

Upon the very first occasion when these animals 
were used in the hunt of the elephant, they rendered 
the very service expected of them. The elephant, as 
usual, bolted after receiving the first shot ; but the 
hunters on “ quagga-back ’ ’ were enabled to keep him 
in sight, and follow rapidly upon his heels. As soon 
as the elephant discovered that, run as he would, his 
pursuers had the power of overtaking him, he dis- 
dained to fly farther, and stood to bay ; thus giving 
them the opportunity of delivering shot after shot, 
until a mortal wound brought his huge body to the 
earth. 

Von Bloom was delighted. His hopes were high, 
his benignant star was once more in the ascendant. 

He would yet accomplish his design. He would yet 
be rich. A few years would enable him to build up 
his fortune — to construct a pyramid of ivory ! 


310 


CHAPTER XT. 


DRIVING IN THE) EDAND. 

O P all the family Hendrik was the hunter par ex- 
cellence. It was he who habitually stored the 
larder ; and upon days when they were not engaged 
in the chase of the elephant, Hendrik would be abroad 
alone in pursuit of antelopes, and other creatures, that 
furnished their usual subsistence. Hendrik kept the 
table well supplied. 

Antelopes are the principal game of South Africa 
— for Africa is the country of the antelope above all 
others. You may be surprised to hear that there are 
seventy different species of antelopes over all the earth 
— that more than fifty of these are African, and that 
thirty at least belong to South Africa— that is, the 
portion of the continent lying between the Cape of 
Good Hope and the Tropic of Capricorn. 

It would require the space of a whole book, there- 
fore, to give a fair account — a monograph— of the 
antelopes alone, and I cannot afford that space here. 
At present I can only say that Africa is the great ante- 
lope country, although many fine species exist also in 


Qhe :JBusb=J6o£s 


Asia — that in America there is but one kind, the prong- 
horn , with which you are already well acquainted — and 
that in Europe there are two, though one of these, the 
well-known “chamois,” is as much goat as antelope. 

I shall farther remark, that the seventy species of 
animals, by naturalists classed as antelopes, differ 
widely from one another in form, size, colour, pelage, 
habits ; in short, in so many respects, that their classi- 
fication under the name of Antelope is very arbitrary 
indeed. Some approximate closely to the goat tribe ; 
others are more like deer ; some resemble oxen ; others 
are closely allied to the buffalo ; while a few species 
possess many of the characteristics of wild sheep ! 

As a general thing, however, they are more like to 
deer than any other animals ; and many species of 
them are, in common parlance, called deer. Indeed, 
many antelopes are more like to certain species of deer 
than to others of their own kind. The chief distinction 
noted between them and the deer is, that the antelopes 
have horny horns, that are persistent or permanent, 
while those of the deer are osseous or bony , and are 
annually cast. 

Like the deer the different species of antelopes pos- 
sess very different habits. Some frequent the wide, 
open plains ; some the deep forest ; some wander by 
the shady banks of streams ; while others love to 
dwell upon the rocky steep, or the dry ravines of the 
mountains. Some browse upon the grass ; while 
312 


Drhnna in tbe Elanfc 


others, goat-like, prefer the leaves and tender twigs 
of trees. In fact, so different are these creatures in 
habits, that whatever be the natural character of a 
district of country, it will be found the favourite home 
of one or more species. Even the very desert has its 
antelopes, that prefer the parched and waterless plain 
to the most fertile and verdant valley. 

Of all antelopes the “ eland,” or “ caana ” (A. oreas) 
is the largest. It measures full seventeen hands at the 
shoulder — being thus equal in height to a very large 
horse. A large eland weighs one thousand pounds. 
It is a heavily formed animal, and an indifferent run- 
ner, as a mounted hunter can gallop up to one without 
effort. Its general proportions are not unlike those 
of a common ox, but its horns are straight and rise 
vertically from the crown, diverging only slightly 
from one another. These are two feet in length, and 
marked by a ridge that passes spirally around them 
nearly to the tips. The horns of the female are longer 
than those of the male. 

The eyes of the eland, like those of most antelopes, 
are large, bright, and melting, without any expression 
of fierceness ; and the animal, though so very large 
and strong, is of the most innocuous disposition — 
showing fight only when driven to desperation. 

The general colour of this antelope is dun, with a 
rufous tinge. Sometimes ashy grey touched with 
ochre is the prevailing hue. 

313 


Uhc ;BusM5o£S 


The eland is one of those antelopes that appear to 
be independent of water. It is met with upon the 
desert plains, far from either spring or stream ; and 
it even seems to prefer such situations — perhaps from 
the greater security it finds there — though it is also a 
denizen of the fertile and wooded districts. It is gre- 
garious, the sexes herding separately, and in groups 
of from ten to a hundred individuals. 

The flesh of the eland is highly esteemed, and does 
not yield in delicacy to that of any of the antelope, 
deer, or bovine tribes. It has been compared to ten- 
der beef with a game flavour ; and the muscles of the 
thighs when cured and dried produce a bonne bouche, 
known under the odd appellation of “ thigh- tongues.” 

Of course the eland affording such excellent meat, 
and in so large a quantity, is zealously hunted for his 
spoils. Being only a poor runner and always very fat, 
the hunt is usually a short one ; and ends in the eland 
being shot down, skinned, and cut up. There is no 
great excitement about this chase, except that it is not 
every day an eland can be started. The ease with 
which they can be captured, as well as the value of 
their venison, has led to the thinning off of these ante- 
lopes ; and it is only in remote districts where a herd 
of them can be found. 

Now since their arrival no elands had been seen, 
though now and then their spoor was observed ; and 
Hendrik, for several reasons, was very desirous of get- 
314 


Driving in tbe lElanb 


ting one. He had never shot an eland in his life — 
that was one reason, and another was, that he wished 
to procure a supply of the fine venison which lies in 
such quantities over the ribs of these animals. 

It was, therefore, with great delight, that Hendrik 
one morning received the report that a herd of elands 
had been seen upon the upper plain, and not far off. 
Swartboy, who had been upon the cliffs, brought this 
report to camp. 

Without losing any more time than sufficed to get 
the direction from Swartboy, Hendrik mounted his 
quagga, shouldered his rifle, and rode off in search of 
the herd. 

Not far from the camp there was an easy pass, lead- 
ing up the cliff to the plain above. It was a sort of 
gorge or ravine ; and from the numerous tracks of ani- 
mals in its bottom, it was evidently much used as a 
road from the upper plain to that in which were the 
spring and stream. Certain animals, such as the ze- 
bras and quaggas, and others that frequent the dry 
desert plains from preference, were in the habit of 
coming by this path when they required water. 

Up the gorge rode Hendrik ; and no sooner had 
he arrived at its top, than he discovered the herd of 
elands — seven old bulls — about a mile off upon the 
upper plain. 

There was not cover enough to have sheltered a 
fox. The only growth near the spot where the elands 
315 


Uhc 


were, consisted of straggling aloe-plants, euphorbias, 
with some stunted bushes, and tufts of dry grass, char- 
acteristic of the desert. There was no clump large 
enough to have sheltered a hunter from the eye of his 
game ; and Hendrik at once came to the conclusion, 
that the elands could not be ‘ ‘ stalked ’ ’ in the situa- 
tion they then occupied. 

Now, though Hendrik had never hunted this ante- 
lope, he was well acquainted with its habits, and knew 
how it ought to be chased. He knew that it was a 
bad runner ; that any old horse could bring up with 
it ; and that his quagga — the fastest of the four that 
had been tamed — could do the same. 

It was only a question of “start,” therefore. Could 
he get near enough the bulls to have a fair start, he 
would run one of them down to a certainty. The 
result might be different should the elands take the 
alarm at a long distance off, and scour away over 
the plain. 

To get within fair starting distance, that was the 
point to be attempted. 

But Hendrik was a wary hunter, and soon accom- 
plished this. Instead of riding direct for the elands, 
he made a grand circuit — until he had got the herd 
between him and the cliff — and then, heading his 
quagga for them, he rode quietly forward. 

He did not sit erect in his saddle, but held himself 
bent down, until his breast almost touched the withers 
316 


HHtvnno in tbe Elanfc 


of the quagga. This he did to deceive the elands, 
who would otherwise have recognised him as an en- 
emy. In such a fashion they could not make out what 
kind of creature was coming towards them ; but stood 
for a long while gazing at Hendrik and his quagga 
with feelings of curiosity, and of course some little 
alarm. 

They, however, permitted the hunter to get within 
five hundred yards distance — near enough for him — 
before they broke off in their heavy lumbering gallop. 

Hendrik now rose in his saddle, put spurs to his 
quagga, and followed the herd at full speed. 

As he had designed, so it came to pass. The elands 
ran straight in the direction of the cliff — not where 
the pass was, but where there was none — and, on reach- 
ing the precipice, were of course forced to turn into a 
new direction, transverse to their former one. This 
gave Hendrik the advantage, who, heading his quagga 
diagonally, was soon upon the heels of the herd. 

It was Hendrik’s intention to single out one of the 
bulls, and run him down — leaving the others to gallop 
off wherever they wished. 

His intention was carried out ; for shortly after, the 
fattest of the bulls shot to one side, as if to escape in 
that way, while the rest ran on. 

The bull was not so cunning as he thought himself. 
Hendrik’s eye was upon him ; and in a moment the 
quagga was turned upon his track. 

3H 


XTbe Busb^JBops 


Another burst carried both game and pursuer nearly 
a mile across the plain. The eland had turned from 
a rufous dun colour to that of a leaden blue ; the 
saliva fell from his lips in long streamers, foam dappled 
his broad chest, the tears rolled out of his big eyes, 
and his gallop became changed to a weary trot. He 
was evidently “blown.” 

In a few minutes more the quagga was close upon 
his heels; and then the huge antelope, seeing that 
farther running could not serve him, halted in despair, 
and faced round towards his pursuer. 

Now Hendrik had his loaded rifle in his hand, and 
you expect to hear that he instantly raised it to his 
shoulder, took aim, fired, and brought down the eland. 

I must disappoint you, then, by telling you that he 
did no such thing. 

Hendrik was a real hunter — neither rash nor waste- 
ful of his resources. He knew a better plan than to 
kill the eland upon the spot. He knew that the ani- 
mal was now quite in his power ; and that he could 
drive him wherever he pleased just like a tame ox. 
To have killed the creature on the spot would have 
been waste of powder and shot. More than that, it 
would have rendered necessary all the trouble of trans- 
porting its flesh to camp — a double journey at least — 
and with the risk of the hyenas eating up most of it 
in his absence. Whereas he could save all this trouble 
by driving the eland to camp ; and this was his design. 

318 


Driving in tbe jElanb 


Without firing a shot, therefore, he galloped on past 
the blown bull, headed him, turned him round, and 
then drove him before him in the direction of the 
cliff. 

The bull could make neither resistance nor opposi- 
tion. Now and again, he would turn and trot off in 
a contrary direction ; but he was easily headed again, 
and at length forced forward to the top of the pass. 


319 


CHAPTER XEI. 


A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK. 

H ENDRIK was congratulating himself on his 
success. He anticipated some pleasure in the 
surprise he was about to create at camp, when he 
should march in with the eland — for he had no doubt 
that he would succeed in doing so. 

Indeed, there appeared no reason to doubt it. The 
bull had already entered the gorge, and was moving 
down it, while Hendrik and his quagga were hurrying 
forward to follow. 

The hunter had arrived within a few yards of the 
top, when a loud trampling noise sounded in his ears, 
as if a band of heavy-footed animals were coming up 
the gorge. 

He spurred his quagga forward, in order to reach 
the edge, and get a view down the ravine. Before he 
was able to do so, he was surprised to see the eland 
gallop up again, and try to pass him upon the plain. 
It had evidently received fresh alarm, from something 
in the gorge ; and preferred facing its old enemy to 
encountering the new. 


320 


H m\ u> iRtbe 


Hendrik did not give his attention to the eland. He 
could ride it down at any time. He was more anxious 
first to know what had given it the start backward ; 
so he continued to press forward to the head of the 
ravine. 

He might have thought of lions, and acted with 
greater prudence ; but the trampling of hoofs which 
still echoed up the pass told him that lions were not 
the cause of the eland’s alarm. 

He at length reached a point where he could see 
down the declivity. He had not far to look — for al- 
ready the animals that were making the noise were 
close up to him ; and he perceived they were nothing 
more than a troop of quaggas. 

He was not over-pleased at this interruption to his 
drive ; and the less did he like it, that the intruders 
were quaggas — ill-conditioned brutes that they were ! 
Had they been game animals, he would have shot one ; 
but the only motive that would have induced him to 
shoot one of the quaggas would have been a feeling of 
anger — for, at that moment, he was really angry at 
them. 

Without knowing it, poor brutes ! they had likely 
given him cause for a good deal of trouble ; for it 
would cost him a good deal, before he could head the 
eland again, and get it back into the pass. No won- 
der, then, he was vexed a little. 

But his vexation was not so grievous as to cause him 


Qhc J6usM30£5 


to fire upon the approaching herd ; and, turning aside, 
he rode after the eland. 

He had hardly left the spot, when the quaggas came 
out of the pass, following each other to the number of 
forty or fifty. Each, as he saw the mounted hunter, 
started with affright, and bolted off, until the whole 
drove stretched out in a long line over the plain, snort- 
ing and uttering their loud “coua-a-g” as they ran. 

Hendrik would hardly have regarded this movement 
under ordinary circumstances. He had often seen 
herds of quaggas, and was in no way curious about 
them. But his attention was drawn to this herd, from 
his noticing, as they passed him, that four of them 
had their tails docked short ; and from this circum- 
stance, he recognised them as the four that had been 
caught in the pit-trap and afterwards set free. Swart- 
boy, for some purpose of his own, had cut off the hair 
before letting them go. 

Hendrik had no doubt it was th£y, and that the 
herd was the same that used to frequent the vley, but 
that on account of the ill-treatment they had met with, 
had never since shown themselves in the neighbour- 
hood. 

Now these circumstances coming into Hendrik’s 
mind at the moment, led him to regard the quaggas 
with a certain feeling of curiosity. The sudden fright 
which the animals took on seeing him, and the comic 
appearance of the four with stumped tails, rather in- 
322 


H Wtlfc TOOe 


dined Hendrik towards merriment, and he laughed 
as he galloped along. 

As the quaggas went off in the same direction which 
the eland had taken, of course Hendrik’s road and 
theirs lay so far together ; and on galloped he at their 
heels. He was curious to try the point — much dis- 
puted in regard to horses — how far a mounted quagga 
would be able to cope with an amounted one. He 
was curious, moreover, to find out whether his own 
quagga was quite equal to any of its old companions. 
So on swept the chase — the eland leading, the quaggas 
after, and Hendrik bringing up the rear. 

Hendrik had no need to ply the spur. His gallant 
steed flew like the wind. He seemed to feel that his 
character was staked upon the race. He gained upon 
the drove at every spring. 

The heavy-going eland was soon overtaken, and as 
it trotted to one side, was passed. It halted, but the 
quaggas kept on. 

Not only the drove kept on, but Hendrik’s quagga 
following close at their heels ; and in less than five 
minutes they had left the eland a full mile in the rear, 
and were still scouring onward over the wide plain. 

What was Hendrik about? Was he going to for- 
sake the eland, and let it escape? Had he grown 
so interested in the race ? Was he jealous about his 
quagga’s speed, and determined it should beat all the 
others ? 


323 


Ube Busb^Boss 


So it would have appeared to any one witnessing the 
race from a distance. But one who could have had a 
nearer view of it, would have given a different expla- 
nation of Hendrik’s conduct. 

The fact was, that as soon as the eland halted, 
Hendrik intended to halt also ; and for that purpose 
pulled strongly upon his bridle. But, to his astonish- 
ment, he found that his quagga did not share his 
intention. Instead of obeying the bit, the animal 
caught the steel in his teeth, and laying his ears back, 
galloped straight on ! 

Hendrik then endeavoured to turn the quagga to 
one side, and for this purpose wrenched his right rein ; 
but with such fierceness, that the old bit-ring gave 
way — the bit slipped through the animal’s jaws — the 
head-stall came off with the jerk — and the quagga was 
completely unbridled ! 

Of course the animal was now free to go just as he 
liked ; and it was plain that he liked to go with his 
old comrades. His old comrades he well knew them 
to be, as his snorting and occasional neigh of recogni- 
tion testified. 

At first Hendrik was disposed to look upon the 
breaking of his bit as only a slight misfortune. For a 
boy he was one of the best riders in South Africa, and 
needed no rein to steady him. He could keep his seat 
without one. The quagga would soon stop, and he 
could then repair the bit, and re-adjust the bridle 
324 


H Milt) m be 


which he still held in his hands. Such were his reflec- 
tions at first. 

But their spirit began to alter, when he found that 
the quagga, instead of lessening his pace kept on as 
hard as ever, and the herd still ran wildly before him 
without showing the slightest signs of coming to a 
halt. 

In fact, the quaggas were running through fear. 
They saw the mounted hunter behind them in hot pur- 
suit ; and although their old comrade knew who they 
were, how were they to tell what he was, with such a 
tall hunch upon his back ? No quagga he, but some 
terrible monster, they imagined, thirsting for their 
lives, and eager to devour one and all of them ! 

No wonder they showed their heels in the best style 
they knew how ; and so well did they show them, 
that Hendrik’s quagga — notwithstanding his keen 
desire to get forward among them, and explain away 
the awkward business upon his back — was not able to 
come an inch closer. 

He did not lose ground, however. His eagerness 
to regain his old associates — to partake once more of 
their wild freedom — for he was desperately tired of 
civilised society, and sick of elephant hunting — all these 
ideas crowded into his mind at the moment, and nerved 
him to the utmost exertion. Could he only get up 
into the body of the crowd — for the herd now ran in a 
crowd — a few whimpers would suffice to explain — they 
325 


Uhc 36usb=:fi5o£S 


would come to a halt at once, — they would gather 
around him, and assist both with hoofs and teeth to get 
“shed” of the ugly two-legged thing that clung so 
tightly to his dorsal vertebrae. 

It was “ no go,” however. Although he was so 
close to their heels, that they flung dust in his face, 
and small pebbles in the face of his rider, to the no 
slight inconvenience of the latter ; although he 
“whighered” whenever he could spare breath, and 
uttered his “ couag, — couag ! ” in reality calling them 
by name, it was “no go.” “They would not stay. 
They would not hear.” 

And what did Hendrik during all this time ? Noth- 
ing — he could do nothing. He could not stay the 
impetuous flight of his steed. He dared not dismount. 
He would have been hurled among sharp rocks, had 
he attempted such a thing. His neck would have 
been broken. He could do nothing — nothing but keep 
his seat. 

What thought he ? At first, not much. At first he 
regarded the adventure lightly. When he was about 
completing his third mile, he began to deem it more 
serious ; and as he entered upon the fifth, he became 
convinced that he was neither more nor less than in a 
very awkward scrape. 

But the fifth mile was left behind, and then a sixth, 
and a seventh ; and still the quaggas galloped wildly 
on — the drove actuated by the fear of losing their lib- 
326 


B MUO IRifce 


erty, and their old comrade by the desire of regain- 
ing his. 

Hendrik now felt real uneasiness. Where were they 
going ? Where was the brute carrying him ? Perhaps 
off to the desert, where he might be lost and perish of 
hunger or thirst ! Already he was many miles from 
the cliffs, and he could no longer tell their direction. 
Even had he halted then and there, he could not tell 
which way to turn himself. He would be lost ! 

He grew more than anxious. He became frightened 
in earnest. 

What was he to do ? heap down, and risk his neck 
in the fall ? He would lose his quagga and his saddle 
as well — he regarded the eland as already lost — he 
would have to walk back to camp, and get laughed at 
on his return. 

No matter for all that ; his life was in danger if he 
kept on. The quaggas might gallop twenty, — aye, 
fifty miles before halting. They showed no symptoms 
of being blown — no signs of giving out. He must 
fling himself to the ground and let quagga and 
saddle go. 

He had formed this resolution, and was actually 
about to put it in practice. He was just considering 
how he might best escape an ugly fall — looking for a 
soft spot — when all at once, a grand idea rushed into 
his mind. 

He remembered that in taming this same quagga 
327 


TOe J5 usM5o£S 


and breaking him to the saddle, he had been vastly 
aided by a very simple contrivance — that was a 
“blind.” The blind was nothing more than a piece 
of soft leather tied over the animal’s eyes ; but so com- 
plete had been its effect, that it had transformed the 
quagga at once from a kicking screaming creature into 
a docile animal. 

Hendrik now thought of the blind. 

True, he had none. Was there nothing about 
him that would serve as one? His handkerchief? 
No, it would be too thin. Hurrah ! His jacket 
would do ! 

His rifle was in the way. It must be got rid of. It 
must be dropped to the ground. He could return for it. 

It was let down as gently as possible, and soon left 
far behind. 

In a twinkling Hendrik stripped off his jacket. 
How was it to be arranged so as to blind the quagga ? 
It would not do to drop it. 

A moment’s consideration served the ready boy to 
mature his plan. After a moment he bent down, 
passed a sleeve upon each side under the quagga’s 
throat, and then knotted them together. The jacket 
thus rested over the animal’s mane, with the collar 
near its withers, and the peak or skirt upon the small 
of its neck. 

Hendrik next leaned as far forward as he could, 
and with his extended arms pushed the jacket up the 
328 



HENDRIC BLINDING THE QUAGGA. 



b mm iRtt>e 


animal’s neck, until the skirt passed over its ears, and 
fell down in front of its face. 

It was with some difficulty that the rider, bent down 
as he was, could retain his seat ; for as soon as the 
thick flap of cloth came down over the eyes of the 
quagga, the latter halted as if he had been shot dead 
in his tracks. He did not fall, however, but only stood 
still, quivering with terror. His gallop was at an end ! 

Hendrik leaped to the ground. He was no longer 
afraid that the quagga, blinded as he now was, would 
make any attempt to get off ; nor did he. 

In a few minutes the broken bit-ring was replaced by 
a strong rheim of raw leather ; the bit inserted between 
the quagga’s teeth, the head-stall safely buckled, and 
Hendrik once more in the saddle, with his jacket upon 
his back. 

The quagga felt that he was conquered. His old 
associates were no longer in sight to tempt him from 
his allegiance ; and with these considerations, aided by 
a slight dose of bit and spur, he turned his head, and 
moved sullenly upon the back track. 

Hendrik knew nothing about the route he should 
take. He followed back the spoor of the quaggas to 
the place where he had dropped his gun, which after 
riding a mile or two he recovered. 

As there was no sun in the sky, nor other object to 
guide him, he thought he could not do better than 
trace back the spoor ; and although it led him by many 
329 


TLhc JSusb^o^s 


a devious route, and he saw nothing more of his eland, 
before night he reached the pass in the cliff, and was 
soon after sitting under the shadow of the nwana-tree, 
regaling a most interested audience with the narrative 
of his day’s adventures. 


33o 


CHAPTER XUI. 


THE GUN-TRAP. 

I T was about this time that the field-cornet and his 
people were very much annoyed by beasts of 
prey. The savoury smell which their camp daily sent 
forth, as well as the remains of antelopes, killed for 
their venison, attracted these visitors. Hyenas and 
jackals were constantly skulking in the neighbourhood, 
and at night came around the great nwana-tree in 
scores, keeping up their horrid chorus for hours to- 
gether. It is true that nobody feared these animals, 
as the children at night were safe in their aerial home, 
where the hyenas could not get at them. But for all that, 
the presence of the brutes was very offensive, as not a bit 
of meat — not a hide, nor rheim, nor any article of leather 
— could be left below without their getting their teeth 
upon it, and chewing it up. Quarters of venison they 
had frequently stolen, and they had eaten up the leath- 
ern part of Swartboy’s saddle, and rendered it quite 
useless for a while. In short, so great a pest had the 
hyenas grown to be, that it became necessary to adopt 
some mode of destroying them. 


33i 


Ube SSusbsJBops 


It was not easy to get a shot at them. During the 
day they were wary, and either hid themselves in caves 
of the cliff or in the burrows of the ant-eater. At night 
they were bold enough, and came into the very camp ; 
but then the darkness hindered a good aim, and the 
hunters knew too well the value of powder and lead to 
waste it on a chance shot, though now and then, 
when provoked by the brutes, they ventured one. 

But some way must be thought of to thin the num- 
bers of these animals, or get rid of them altogether. 
This was the opinion of everybody. 

Two or three kinds of traps were tried, but without 
much success. A pit they could leap out of, and from 
a noose they could free themselves by cutting the rope 
with their sharp teeth ! 

At length the field-cornet resorted to a plan — much 
practised by the boors of Southern Africa for ridding 
their farms of these and similar “vermin.” It was 
the “ gun-trap.” 

Now there are several ways of constructing a gun- 
trap. Of course a gun is the principle part of the mech- 
anism, and the trigger pulled by a string is the main 
point of the contrivance. In some countries the bait 
is tied to the string, and the animal on seizing the 
bait tightens the string, draws the trigger, and shoots 
itself. In this way, however, there is always some 
uncertainty as to the result. The animal may not 
place its body in the proper position with regard to the 
332 


XTbe 0utWGrap 


muzzle, and may either escape the shot altogether, or 
may be only “creased,” and of course get off. 

The mode of setting the ‘ ‘ gun-trap ’ ’ in South Africa 
is a superior plan ; and the creature that is so unfortu- 
nate as to draw the trigger rarely escapes, but is either 
killed upon the spot, or so badly wounded as to prevent 
its getting away. 

Von Bloom constructed his trap after the approved 
fashion, as follows : — Near the camp he selected a spot 
where three saplings or young trees grew, standing in 
a line, and about a yard between each two of them. 
Had he not found three trees so disposed, stakes firmly 
driven into the ground would have answered his pur- 
pose equally well. 

Thorn-bushes were now cut, and a kraal built in the 
usual manner — that is, with the tops of the bushes 
turned outwards. The size of the kraal was a matter 
of no consequence ; and of course to save labour, a 
small one was constructed. 

One point, however, was observed in making the 
kraal. Its door or opening was placed so that two of 
the three saplings stood like posts, one on each side of it ; 
and an animal going into the enclosure must needs 
pass between these two trees. 

Now for the part the gun had to play. 

The weapon was placed in a horizontal position 
against two of the saplings,— that is, the stock against 
the one outside the kraal, and the barrel against one 


333 


TTbe JBu5b=Bo^s 


of the door-posts, and there firmly lashed. In this 
position the muzzle was close to the edge of the en- 
trance, and pointing directly to the sapling on the 
opposite side. It was at such a height as to have ranged 
with the heart of a hyena standing in the opening. 

The next move was to adjust the string. Already a 
piece of stick, several inches in length, had been fixed 
to the small of the stock, and, of course, behind the 
trigger. This was fastened transversely, but not so as 
to preclude all motion. A certain looseness in its ad- 
justment gave it the freedom required to be worked as 
a lever — for that was its design. 

To each end of this little stick was fastened a string. 
One of these strings was attached to the trigger ; the 
other, after being carried through the thimbles of the 
ramrod, traversed across the entrance of the kraal, and 
was knotted upon the opposite side to the sapling that 
stood there. This string followed the horizontal direc- 
tion of the barrel, and was just “taut” ; so that any 
farther strain upon it would act upon the little lever, 
and by that means pull the trigger ; and then of course 
4 ‘ bang ’ ’ would go the roer. 

When this string was adjusted, and the gun loaded 
and cocked, the trap was set. 

Nothing remained to be done but bait it. This was 
not a difficult task. It consisted simply in placing a 
piece of meat or carcass within the enclosure, and there 
leaving it to attract the prowling beasts to the spot. 

334 


Ube (BurVIXrap 


When the gun had been set, Swartboy carried up the 
bait — the offal of an antelope killed that day — and flung 
it into the kraal ; and then the party went quietly to 
their beds, without thinking more of the matter. 

They had not slept a wink, however, before they were 
startled by the loud ‘ * crack ’ ’ of the roer, followed by a 
short stifled cry that told them the gun- trap had done 
its work. 

A torch was procured, and the four hunters pro- 
ceeded to the spot. There they found the dead body 
of a huge ‘ ‘ tiger- wolf ’ ’ lying doubled up in the en- 
trance, and right under the muzzle of the gun. He 
had not gone a step after receiving the shot — in fact, 
had hardly kicked before dying — as the bullet, wad 
and all, had gone quite through his ribs and entered 
his heart, after making a large ugly hole in his side. 
Of course he must have been within a few inches of 
the muzzle, when his breast, pressing against the 
string, caused the gun to go off. 

Having again loaded the roer, the hunters returned to 
their beds. One might suppose they would have dragged 
the suicidal hyena away from the spot, lest his carcass 
should serve as a warning to his comrades, and keep 
them away from the trap. But Swartboy knew better 
than that. Instead of being scared by the dead body 
of one of their kind, the hyenas only regard it as 
proper prey, and will devour it as they would the re- 
mains of a tender antelope ! 

335 


Uhc JBusMSops 


Knowing this, Swartboy did not take the dead hyena 
away, but only drew it within the kraal to serve as a 
farther inducement for the others to attempt an en- 
trance there. 

Before morning they were once more awakened by 
the “bang” of the great gun. This time they lay 
still ; but when day broke they visited their trap, and 
found that a second hyena had too rashly pressed his 
bosom against the fatal string. 

Night after night they continued their warfare 
against the hyenas, changing the trap-kraal to dif- 
ferent localities in the surrounding neighbourhood. 

At length these creatures were nearly exterminated, 
or, at all events, became so rare and shy, that their 
presence by the camp was no longer an annoyance one 
way or the other. 

About this time, however, there appeared another set 
of visitors, whose presence was far more to be dreaded, 
and whose destruction the hunters were more anxious 
to accomplish. That was a family of lions. 

The spoor of these had been often seen in the neigh- 
bourhood ; but it was some time before they began to 
frequent the camp. However, about the time the 
hyenas had been fairly got rid of, the lions took their 
place, and came every night, roaring about the camp 
in a most terrific manner. 

Dreadful as these sounds were, the people were not 
so much afraid of them as one might imagine. They 
336 


Ufoe GuttfErap 


well knew that the lions could not get at them in the 
tree. Had it been leopards they might have felt less 
secure, as the latter are true tree-climbers ; but they 
had seen no leopards in that country, and did not think 
of them. 

They were not altogether without fear of the lions, 
however. They were annoyed, moreover, that they 
could not with safety descend from the tree after night- 
fall, but were every night besieged from sunset till 
morning. Besides, although the cow and the quaggas 
were shut in strong kraals, they dreaded each night 
that the lions ^would make a seizure of one or other of 
these animals ; and the loss of any one of them, but 
especially their friend “old Graaf,” would have been 
a very serious misfortune. 

It was resolved, therefore, to try the gun-trap upon 
the lions, as it had succeeded so well with the hyenas. 

There was no difference in the construction or con- 
trivance of the trap. The gun only had to be placed 
upon a higher level, so that its muzzle might be oppo- 
site the lion’s heart, and the proper range was easily 
obtained. The bait, however, was not carcass, but an 
animal freshly killed ; and for this purpose an antelope 
was procured. 

The result was as desired. On the first night the old 
male lion ‘ ‘ breasted ’ ’ the fatal string and bit the dust. 
Next night the lioness was destroyed in a similar way ; 
and shortly after a full-grown young male. 

337 


22 


TLhe BusMSoys 


The trap then lay idle for a while ; but about a week 
after a half-grown “cub ” was shot near the camp by 
Hendrik, no doubt the last of that family, as no lions 
were seen for a long time after. 

A great enemy to night-plunderers was that same 
gun-trap. 


338 


CHAPTER XLIII. 


THE WEAVER-BIRDS. 

OW that the beasts of prey had been destroyed, 



or driven from about the camp, there was no 


longer any danger in that quarter, and the children 
could be left by themselves. Totty of course always 
stayed with them ; while the four hunters went forth 
upon the chase of the elephant — each mounted upon 
his quagga. 

They had done so many a time, and as no harm had 
happened to the children in their absence, such a 
course became habitual with them. Jan and Triiey 
were cautioned not to stray far from the nwana, and 
always to climb to the tree, should they perceive any 
animal that might be dangerous. Before the destruc- 
tion of the hyenas and lions, they had been used to 
remain altogether in the tree, while the hunters were 
absent. But this had been quite an imprisonment to 
them ; and now that the danger was not considered 
much, they were allowed to come down and play upon 
the grassy plain, or wander along the shore of the 
little lake. 


339 


TUbe J6usb=JSo^5 


On one occasion when the hunters were abroad, 
Triiey -had strayed down to the edge of the water. She 
was alone, if we except the company of the gazelle, 
which followed at her heels wherever she went. This 
pretty creature had grown to full size, and had turned 
out a great beauty, with large round eyes that had 
a lovely melting expression, like the eyes of Triiey 
herself. 

Well, as I have said, Triiey w r as alone. Jan was 
busy near the bottom of the tree, working a new rod 
into his bird-cage, and Totty was out upon the plain 
herding “old Graaf ” — so Triiey and the pet spring- 
bok went strolling along by themselves. 

Now Triiey had not gone down to the water without 
an object. She had one. She had gone to give her 
pet a drink, and collect some blue lilies for a bouquet. 
All this she had done, and still continued to walk along 
the shore. 

On one side of the lake, and that the farthest from the 
nw r ana-tree, a low spit of land projected into the water. 
It had once been but a sand-bar, but grass had grown 
upon it, until a green turf was formed. There was not 
over a square perch of it altogether, but it was not 
square in shape. On the contrary, it was oval of form, 
and much narrower nearest the land, where it formed 
a neck, or isthmus, not more than three feet in width. 
It was, in short, a miniature peninsula, w r hich by a 
very little work with the spade could have been 


340 


Ube Meaper=Btrbs 


converted into a miniature island— had that been 
desired. 

Now there is nothing very remarkable about a little 
peninsula projecting into a lake. In nearly every lake 
such a thing may be seen. But about this one there 
was something remarkable. 

Upon its extreme end grew a tree of singular form 
and foliage. It was not a large tree, and its branches 
drooped downwards until their tips almost touched the 
water. The pendulous boughs, and long lanceolate 
silvery leaves, rendered it easy to tell what sort of tree 
it was. It was the weeping or Babylonian willow — so 
called, because it was upon trees of this species that 
the captive Jews hung their harps when they “sat 
and wept by the streams of Babel.” This beautiful 
tree casts its waving shadow over the streams of South 
Africa, as well as those of Assyria ; and often is the 
eye of the traveller gladdened by the sight of its sil- 
very leaves, as he beholds them, — sure indications of 
water — shining afar over the parched and thirsty 
desert. If a Christian, he fails not to remember that 
highly poetical passage of sacred writing, that speaks 
of the willow of Babylon. 

Now the one which grew upon the little peninsula 
had all these points of interest for little Triiey — but it 
had others as well. Upon its branches that overhung 
the water a very singular appearance presented itself. 
Upon these was suspended — one upon the end of each 
34i 


Ube JBusb^JBops 


branch — a number of odd-shaped objects, that hung 
drooping down until their lower ends nearly rested 
upon the surface of the water. These objects, as 
stated, were of a peculiar shape. At the upper ends — 
where they were attached to the branches — they were 
globe-shaped, but the lower part consisted of a long 
cylinder of much smaller diameter, and at the bottom 
of this cylinder was the entrance. They bore some re- 
semblance to salid-oil bottles inverted, with their necks 
considerably lengthened ; or they might be compared 
to the glass retorts seen in the laboratory of the 
chemist. 

They were each twelve or fifteen inches in length, 
and of a greenish colour — nearly as green as the leaves 
of the tree itself. Were they its fruit? ” 

No. The weeping willow bears no fruit of that size. 
They were not fruit. They were nests of birds ! 

Yes ; they were the nests of a colony of harmless 
finches of the genus Ploceus , — better known to you 
under the appellation of “ weaver-birds.” 

I am sure you have heard of weaver-birds before 
this ; and you know that these creatures are so called 
on account of the skill which they exhibit in the con- 
struction of their nests. They do not build nests, as 
other birds, but actually weave them, in a most in- 
genius manner. 

You are not to suppose that there is but one species 
of weaver-bird — one kind alone that forms these curi- 


342 


TZfte Mea\>er*Btr&s 


ous nests. In Africa — which is the principal home 
of these birds — there are many different kinds, form- 
ing different genera, whose hard names I shall not 
trouble you with. Each of these different kinds builds 
a nest of peculiar shape, and each chooses a material 
different from the others. Some, as the Ploceus icter- 
ocephalus , make their nests of a kidney-shape, with 
the entrance upon the sides, and the latter not circular 
but like an arched doorway. Others of the genus 
Plocepasser weave their nests in such a manner, that 
the thick ends of the stalks stick out all around the 
outside, giving them the appearance of suspended 
hedge-hogs ; while the birds of another genus closely 
allied to the latter, construct their nests of slender 
twigs, leaving the ends of these to project in a similar 
manner. The “ social gros-beak ” ( Loxia soda ) fabri- 
cates a republic of nests in one clump, and all under 
* one roof. The entrances are in the under-surface of 
this mass, which, occupying the whole top of a tree, 
has the appearance of a hay-stack, or a dense piece 
of thatch. 

All these weaver-birds, though of different genera, 
bear a considerable resemblance to each other in their 
habits. They are usually granivorous , though some 
are insedivorous ; and one species, the ‘ ‘ red-billed 
weaver-bird ’ ’ ( Textor erythrorhynchus') , is a parasite 
of the wild buffaloes. 

It is a mistake to suppose that weaver-birds are 


343 


Uhc Busb^Bo^s 


only found in Africa and the Old World, as stated in 
the works of many naturalists. In tropical America, 
birds of this character are found in many species of 
the genera Cassicus and Icterus , who weave pensile 
nests of a similar kind upon the trees of the Amazon 
and Orinoco. But the true weaver-birds — that is to 
say, those which are considered the type of the class, — 
are those of the genus Ploceus ; and it was a species 
of this genus that had hung their pendulous habita- 
tions upon the weeping willow. They were of the 
species known as the ‘ ‘ pensile weaver-bird ’ ’ (. Ploceus 
pensilis.') 

There were full twenty of their nests in all, shaped 
as already described, and of green colour — for the 
tough “Bushman’s grass,” out of which they had 
been woven, had not yet lost its verdant hue, nor 
would it for a long time. Being of this colour, they 
actually looked like something that grew upon the 
tree, — like great pear-shaped fruits. No doubt from 
this source have been derived the tales of ancient 
travellers, who represented that in Africa were trees 
with fruits upon them, which, upon being broken open, 
disclosed to view either living birds or their eggs ! 

Now the sight of the weaver-birds, and their nests 
was nothing new to Triiey. It was some time since 
the colony had established itself upon the willow-tree, 
and she and they had grown well acquainted. She 
had often visited the birds, had collected seeds, and- 


344 


Zhc Meav>et>Bir&s 


carried them down to the tree ; and there was not 
one of the whole colony that would not have perched 
upon her wrist or her pretty white shoulders, or 
hopped about over her fair locks, without fear. It 
was nothing unusual to her to see the pretty creatures 
playing about the branches, or entering the long 
vertical tunnels that led upward to their nests — noth- 
ing unusual for Triiey to listen for hours to their 
sweet twittering, or watch their love-gambols around 
the borders of the vley. 

She was not thinking of them at the moment, but 
of something else, perhaps of the blue water-lilies — 
perhaps of the springbok — but certainly not of them, 
as she tripped gaily along the edge of the lake. 

Her attention, however, was suddenly attracted to 
the birds. 

All at once, and without any apparent cause, they 
commenced screaming and fluttering around the tree, 
their cries and gestures betokening a high state of 
excitement or alarm. 


345 


CHAPTER XLIV. 


THE SPITTING-SNAKE. 

“ T T THAT can be the matter with my pretty 
\\ birds ? ” asked Triiey of herself. “ Some- 
thing wrong surely ! I see no hawk. Perhaps they 
are fighting among themselves. I shall go round and 
see. I shall soon pacify them.” 

And so saying she mended her pace ; and passing 
round the end of the lake, walked out upon the pen- 
insula until she stood under the willow. 

There was no underwood . The tree stood alone 
upon the very end of the spit of land, and Triiey 
went close in to its trunk. Here she stopped and 
looked up among the branches, to ascertain what 
was causing so much excitement among the birds. 

As she approached, several of the little creatures 
had flown towards her, and alighted upon her arms 
and shoulders ; but not as was their wont when desir- 
ing to be fed. They appeared to be in a state of alarm, 
and had come to her for protection. 

Some enemy certainly must be near, thought Triiey, 
though she could see none. 

346 


Ube Spittin^Sna^e 


She looked around and above. There were no 
hawks in the air, nor on the neighbouring trees, — 
no birds of prey of any kind. Had there been one 
in the willow, she could easily have seen it, as the 
foliage was light and thin ; besides a hawk would not 
have remained in the tree with her standing so near. 
What, then, caused the trouble among the birds? 
what was still causing it — for they were as noisy and 
terrified as ever ? Ha ! At last the enemy appears — 
at last Triiey’s eyes have fallen upon the monster who 
has disturbed the peaceful colony of weavers, and 
roused them to such a pitch of excitement. 

Slowly gliding along a horizontal branch, grasping 
the limb in its many spiral folds, appeared the body 
of a large serpent. Its scales glittered as it moved, 
and it was the shining of these that had caught 
Triiey’s eyes, and directed them upon the hideous 
reptile. 

When she first saw it, it was gliding spirally along 
one of the horizontal branches of the willow, and 
coming, as it were, from the nests of the birds. Her 
eyes, however, had scarce rested upon it, before its 
long slippery body passed from the branch, and the 
next moment it was crawling head-foremost down the 
main trunk of the tree. 

Triiey had scarce time to start back, before its head 
was opposite the spot where she had stood. No doubt 
had she kept her place she would have been bitten by 
347 


tTbe JBu5l>3Bo^5 


the serpent at once ; for the reptile, on reaching that 
point, detached its head from the tree, spread its jaws 
wide open, projected its forked tongue, and hissed 
horribly. It was evidently enraged — partly because it 
had failed in its plundering intentions, not having 
been able to reach the nests of the birds, — and partly 
that the latter had repeatedly struck it with their 
beaks — no doubt causing it considerable pain. It was 
further provoked by the arrival of Triiey, in whom it 
recognised the rescuer of its intended victims. 

Whatever were its thoughts at that moment, it was 
evidently in a rage — as the motion of its head and the 
flashing of its eyes testified ; and it would have sprung 
upon any creature that had unfortunately come in its 
way. 

Triiey, however, had no intention of getting in its 
way if she could avoid it. It might be a harmless 
serpent for all she knew ; but a snake, nearly six feet 
in length, whether it be harmless or venomous, is 
a terrible object to be near ; and Triiey had instinc- 
tively glided to one side, and stood off from it as far as 
the water would allow her. 

She would have run back over the narrow isthmus ; 
but something told her that the snake was about to 
take that direction, and might overtake her ; and this 
thought induced her to pass to one side of the penin- 
sula, in hopes the reptile would follow the path that 
led out to the mainland. 


348 


Ube Spittina=5nafee 


Having got close to the water’s edge, she stood 
gazing upon the hideous form, and trembled as she 
gazed. 

Had Triiey known the character of that reptile, she 
would have trembled all the more. She saw before 
her one of the most venomous of serpents, the black 
naja, on “ spitting-snake the cobra of Africa— far 
more dangerous than its congener the cobra de capello 
of India, because far more active in its movements, 
and equally fatal in its bite. 

Triiey knew not this. She only knew that there 
was a great ugly snake, nearly twice her own length, 
with a large open mouth and glistening tongue, 
apparently ready to eat her up. That was fearful 
enough for her, poor thing ! and she gazed and trem- 
bled, and trembled and gazed again. 

Angry as the cobra appeared, it did not turn aside 
to attack her. Neither did it remain by the tree. 
After uttering its long loud hiss, it descended to the 
ground, and glided rapidly off. 

It made directly for the isthmus, as if intending to 
pass it, and retreat to some bushes that grew at a dis- 
tance off on the mainland. 

Triiey was in hopes that such was its design, and 
was just beginning to feel safe again, when, all at 
once, the snake coiled itself upon the narrow neck of 
land, as if it intended to stay there. 

It had executed this manoeuvre so suddenly, and so 


349 


Zh e JSusb^ops 


apparently without premeditation, that Triiey looked 
to discover the cause. The moment before, it was 
gliding along in rapid retreat, its glistening form 
stretched to its full length along the earth. The next 
instant it had assumed the appearance of a coiled 
cable, over the edge of which projected its fierce head, 
with the scaly skin of its neck broadly extended, into 
that hoodlike form which characterises the cobra. 

Triiey, we have said, looked for the cause of this 
sudden change in the tactics of the reptile. She learnt 
it at the first glance. 

There stretched a piece of smooth sloping ground 
from the edge of the lake back into the plain. By 
this the little peninsula was approached. As she 
glanced outward, she saw the springbok advancing 
down this slope. It was the approach of the antelope 
that had interrupted the retreat of the serpent ! 

Triiey, on first discovering the snake, had uttered 
a cry of alarm. This cry had summoned her pet — 
that had lingered behind browsing upon the grass — 
and it was now bounding forward, with its white tail 
erect, and its large brown eyes glistening with an ex- 
pression of inquiry. 

It saw its mistress out upon the peninsula. Had 
she called it ? Why had she uttered that strange cry ? 
They were not sounds of joyful import it had heard. 
Was anything amiss? Yonder she stood. It would 
gallop to her and see what was wanted ; and with 
350 


XTbe 5pttttno=5nafee 


such thoughts passing through its brain, the bright 
little creature bounded down the bank towards the 
edge of the lake. 

Triiey trembled for her pet. Another spring, and it 

would be upon the lurking serpent — another “ Ha ! 

it is safe ! ’ ’ 

These words escaped from the lips of the young 
girl, as she saw the springbok rise high into the air, 
and leap far and clear over the coiled reptile. The 
antelope had observed the snake in time, and saved 
itself by one of those tremendous bounds, such as 
only a springbok can make. The fond creature, hav- 
ing passed the danger, now ran on to its mistress, and 
stood with its big shining eyes bent upon her in- 
quiringly. 

But the cry that Triiey had uttered had summoned 
another individual. To her horror, she now saw little 
Jan running down the slope, and coming directly upon 
the path where the cobra lay coiled ! 


35 * 


CHAPTER XLV. 


the: SERPENT-EATER. 

J AN’S danger was imminent. He was rushing im- 
petuously forward upon the coiled serpent. He 
knew not that it was before him. No warning 
would reach him in time to stay his haste. In another 
moment he would be on the narrow path, and then no 
power could save him from the deadly bite. It would 
be impossible for him to leap aside or over the reptile, 
as the antelope had done ; for even then Triiey had 
noticed that the cobra had darted its long neck several 
feet upwards. It would be certain to reach little. Jan, 
perhaps, coil itself around him. Jan would be lost ! 

For some moments Triiey was speechless. Terror 
had robbed her of the power of speech. She could 
only scream, and fling her arms wildly about. 

But these demonstrations, instead of warning Jan of 
the danger, only rendered it the more certain. He 
connected the cries which Triiey now uttered with that 
which had first summoned him. She was in some 
trouble — he knew not what ; but as she continued to 
scream, he believed that something had attacked her. 
352 


Ube 5erpent>j£ater 


A snake he thought it might be ; but whatever it was, 
his first impulse was to hurry up to her rescue. He 
could do no good until close to her ; and, therefore, 
he did not think of halting until he should reach the 
spot where she stood. 

Her screams, therefore, and the wild gestures that 
accompanied them, only caused him to run the faster ; 
and as his eyes were bent anxiously on Triiey, there 
was not the slightest hope that he would perceive the 
serpent until he had either trodden upon it, or felt its 
fatal bite. 

Triiey uttered one last cry of warning, pronouncing 
at the same time the words : — 

“ Oh, brother ! back ! The snake ! the snake ! ” 

The words were uttered in vain. Jan heard them, 
but did not comprehend their meaning. He heard the 
word ‘ ‘ snake. ’ ’ He was expecting as much, it had 
attacked Triiey ; and although he did not see it, it was 
no doubt wound about her body. He hurried on. 

Already he was within six paces of the dread reptile, 
that had erected its long spread neck to receive him. 
Another moment, and its envenomed fangs would 
pierce deep into his flesh. 

With a despairing scream Triiey rushed forward. 
She hoped to attract the monster upon herself. She 
would risk her own life to save that of her brother ! 

She had got within six feet of the threatening rep- 
tile. Jan was about the same distance from it on the 


ftbe JBusb^ogs 


opposite side. They were equally in peril ; and one 
or the other — perhaps both — would have fallen a sacri- 
fice to the deadly cobra ; but at that moment their 
saviour was nigh. A dark shadow passed under their 
eyes — in their ears was a rushing sound like the 
‘ ‘ whish * ’ of a falling body — and at the same instant 
a large bird darted down between them ! 

It did not stay to alight. For a moment its strong 
broad wings agitated the air in their faces ; but the 
next moment the bird made a sudden effort, and rose 
vertically upwards. 

Triiey’s eyes fell upon the ground. The cobra was 
no longer there. 

With an exclamation of joy she sprang forward, 
and, throwing her arms around Jan, cried out, — 

“ We are saved, brother ! — we are saved ! ” 

Jan was somewhat bewildered. As yet he had seen 
no snake. He had seen the bird dart down between 
them ; but so adroitly had it seized the cobra and 
carried it off, that Jan, looking only at Triiey, had not 
perceived the serpent in its beak. He was bewildered 
and terrified, for he still fancied that Triiey was in 
danger. 

When he heard her exclaim, “ We are saved ! ” he 
was bewildered all the more. 

“But the snake!” he cried out. “ Where is the 
snake ? ’ ’ 

As he put these questions, he kept examining Triiey 
354 


Ufoe &erpent>:!£ater 


from head to foot, as if expecting to see a reptile 
twined around some part of her body. 

“The snake, Jan! Did you not see it? It was 
just there, at our feet ; but now— see ! yonder it is. 
The secretary has got it. See ! They are fighting ! 
Good bird ! I hope it will punish the villain for try- 
ing to rob my pretty weavers. That ’s it, good bird ! 
Give it to him ! See, Jan ! What a fight ! ” 

“Oh, ah!” said Jan, now comprehending the 
situation. “ Oh, ah ! Sure enough, yonder is a snake, 
and a wopper, too. Ne’er fear, Truey ! Trust my 
secretary. He ’ll give the rascal a taste of his claws. 
There ’s a lick well put in ! Another touch like that, 
and there won’t be much life left in the scaly villain. 
There again, — wop ! ” 

With these and similar exclamations the two chil- 
dren stood watching the fierce conflict that raged 
between the bird and the reptile. 

Now this bird was a very peculiar one — so much so, 
that in all the world there is no other of the same 
kind. In form it resembled a crane, having very long 
legs, and being about the height and size of a crane. 
Its head and beak, however, were more like those of 
an eagle or vulture. It had well-developed wings, 
armed with spurs, and a very long tail, with the two 
middle feathers longer than the rest. Its general col- 
our was bluish grey, with a white throat and breast, 
and a reddish tinge upon the wing-feathers. But, 
355 


XT be JBusb -Bops 


perhaps, the most remarkable thing about the bird was 
its “crest.” This consisted of a number of long, 
blackish plumes growing out of its occiput, and extend- 
ing down the back of its neck nearly to the shoulders. 
These gave the bird a very peculiar appearance ; and 
the fancied resemblance to a secretary of the olden 
time with his long quill behind his ear — before steel 
pens came into fashion — is the reason why the bird 
has received the very inappropriate name of the 
“Secretary-bird.” 

It is more properly named the “ serpent-eater,” and 
naturalists have given it the title Gypogeranus, or 
‘ ‘ crane- vulture. ” It is sometimes also called ‘ ‘ the 
messenger,” from the staid solemn manner of its walk, 
as it stalks over the plain. 

Of all its names that of ‘ ‘ serpent-eater ’ ’ is the best 
adapted to the character of the bird. It is true there 
are other birds that kill and eat serpents, — as the 
“guaco” bird of South America, and many hawks 
and kites, — but the secretary is the only winged crea- 
ture that makes reptiles of this class exclusively its 
prey, and carries on a constant war against them. It 
is not strictly correct to say that it feeds exclusively 
upon snakes. It will also eat lizards, tortoises, and 
even locusts ; but snakes are certainly its favourite 
food, and to obtain these it risks its life in many a 
deadly encounter with those of a very large kind. 

The serpent-eater is an African bird, and is not 

356 


Uhc £erpent>i£ater 


peculiar to South Africa alone, as it is foun4 in the 
Gambia country. It is also a native of the Philippine 
Isles. There is some doubt whether the species of the 
Philippine Isles is identical with that of Africa. A 
difference is noted in the plumage, though very slight. 
The disposition of the crest-plumes differs in the two, 
and the tail-feathers are differently arranged. In the 
African species the two middle ones are the longest, 
while in the serpent-eater of the Philippines it is the 
two outside feathers that project — giving the bird the 
appearance of having a “fork” or “swallow” tail. 
Some points of distinction have also been observed 
between the South African bird and that of the 
Gambia. 

The serpent-eater is, however, a very unique bird ; 
and naturalists, failing to class it with either hawks, 
eagles, vultures, gallinse, or cranes, have elevated it, 
so as to form a distinct tribe, family, genus, and species, 
of itself. 

In South Africa it frequents the great plains and dry 
karoos, stalking about in search of its prey. It is not 
gregarious, but lives solitary or in pairs, making its nest 
in trees, — usually those of a thick thorny species, — 
which renders the nest most difficult of approach. The 
whole edifice is about three feet in diameter, and resem- 
bles the nests of the tree-building eagles. It is usually 
lined with feathers and down, and two or three eggs 
are the number deposited for a single hatching. 


357 


tr be JSusb^So^s 


The serpent-eater is an excellent runner, and spends 
more time on foot than on the wing. It is a shy wary 
bird, yet, notwithstanding, it is most easily domesti- 
cated ; and it is not uncommon to see them about the 
houses of the Cape farmers, where they are kept as 
pets, on account of their usefulness in destroying 
snakes, lizards, and other vermin. They have been 
long ago introduced into the French West India Isl- 
ands, and naturalised there — in order that they should 
make war upon the dangerous ‘ * yellow serpent ’ ’ 
( Trigonocephalus lanceolatus ), the plague of the planta- 
tions in those parts. 

Now the bird which had so opportunely appeared 
between Jan and Triiey, and had no doubt saved one 
or the other, or both, from the deadly bite of the 
spuugh-slang , was a serpent-eater, — one that had been 
tamed, and that made its home among the branches of 
the great nwana-tree. The hunters had found it upon 
the plain, wounded by some animal, — perhaps a very 
large snake, and had brought it home as a curiosity. 
In time it quite recovered from its wounds ; but the 
kindness it had received, during the period when it 
was an invalid, was not thrown away upon it. When 
it recovered the use of its wings, it refused to leave the 
society of its protectors, but remained habitually in the 
camp — although it made frequent excursions into the 
surrounding plains in search of its favourite food. It 
always, however, returned at night, and roosted among 
358 


Qhe 5erpent>i£ater 


the branches of the great nwana-tree. Of course it 
was Jan’s pet, and Jan was very good to it ; but it now 
repaid all his kindness in saving him from the fangs of 
the deadly cobra. 

The children, having recovered from their alarm, 
stood watching the singular conflict between serpent 
and serpent-eater. 

On first seizing the reptile the bird had caught it by 
the neck in its beak. It might not have accomplished 
this so readily, had not the attention of the snake been 
occupied by the children, thus throwing it off its guard. 

Having succeeded in seizing the reptile, the bird 
rose nearly in a vertical direction to a height of many 
yards, and then opening his beak permitted the ser- 
pent to fall to the ground. His object was to stun the 
latter by the fall ; and the more effectually to do this, 
he would have carried the cobra still higher, had not 
the latter prevented it by attempting to coil itself 
around his wings. 

Upon letting fall his prey the serpent-eater did not 
remain in the air. On the contrary, he darted after 
the falling reptile, and the moment the latter touched 
the ground, and before it could put itself in an attitude 
of defence, the bird i ‘ pounced ’ ’ upon it with spread 
foot, striking it a violent blow near the neck. The 
snake was still but slightly damaged, and throwing 
itself into a coil stood upon its defence. Its mouth 
was opened to its widest extent, its tongue protruded, 
359 


Uh e 


its fangs were erect, and its eyes flashing with rage 
and poison. A terrible antagonist it appeared, and for 
a moment the secretary seemed to think so, as he stood 
on the ground confronting it. 

But the bird soon began to advance upon it for a re- 
newal of the attack, though this advance was made in 
a cautious manner. With the pinions of one of his 
strong wings spread broadly out for a shield, he ap- 
proached the reptile sideways, and, when near enough, 
suddenly wheeled, turning upon his leg as on a pivot, and 
struck sharply out with his other wing. The blow 
was delivered with good effect. It reached the head 
of the snake, and seemed to stun it. Its neck drooped, 
and the coils became loosened . Before it could recover 
itself it was once more in the beak of the serpent-eater 
and trailing through the air. 

This time the bird rose to a much greater height 
than before — as he was not hampered by the writhing 
of the serpent — and as before suffered the reptile to 
fall, and then darted suddenly after. 

When the snake came to the ground a second time 
it lay for a moment stretched at full length, as if stunned 
or dead. It was not dead, however, and would once 
more have coiled itself ; but, before it could do so, the 
bird had repeatedly “ pounced ” upon its neck with his 
spread and horny feet ; and at length, watching his 
opportunity when the head of the serpent lay flat, he 
struck a blow with his sharp beak so violent, that it 
360 


Ube 5erpent>i£ater 


split the skull of the reptile in twain ! L,ife was now 
extinct, and the hideous form, extended to its full 
length, lay lithe and motionless upon the grass. 

Jan and Triiey clapped their hands, and uttered 
exclamations of joy. 

The serpent-eater took no heed of their demonstra- 
tions, but, approaching the dead cobra, bent over it, 
and coolly set about making his dinner. 


CHAPTER XlyVI. 


TOTTY AND THE) CHACMAS. 

ON Bloom and his family had now been months 



without bread. They were not without a sub- 


stitute, however, as various roots and nuts supplied 
them with a change of food. Of the latter, they had 
the ground or pig-nut ( Arachis hypogea ), which grows 
in all parts of Southern Africa, and which forms a sta- 
ple food of the native inhabitants. Eor vegetables 
they had the bulbs of many species of Ixias and Mesem- 
bryanthemums , among others the “Hottentot fig” 
( Mesembryanthemum edule ). They had the “ Caffir 
bread” — the inside pith of the stems of a species of 
Zamia ; and the ‘ ‘ Caffir chestnut, ’ ’ the fruit of the 
Brabeium stellatum ; and last, not least, the enormous 
roots of the “ elephant’s foot ” ( Tesiudinaria elephan- 
tipes). They had wild onions and garlic too ; and in 
the white flower Aops of a beautiful floating plant 
(. Aponogeton distachys ), they found a substitute for 
asparagus. 

All these roots and fruits were to be obtained in the 
neighbourhood, and no man knew better how to find 


362 


Uott£ mb tbe Cbacmas 


them, and ‘ ‘ crow ’ ’ them up when found, than did 
Swartboy the Bushman. Well might he, for in Swart- 
boy’s early days he had often been compelled to sub- 
sist for weeks, and even months, on roots alone ! 

But although they could procure a constant supply 
of these natural productions, they considered them but 
a poor substitute for bread ; and all of them longed to 
eat once more what is usually termed the “staff of 
life ” — though in South Africa, where so many people 
live exclusively upon the flesh of animals, bread is 
hardly entitled to that appellation. 

Bread they were likely to have, and soon. When 
treking from the old kraal, they had brought with 
them a small bag of maize. It was the last of their 
previous year’s stock ; and there was not in all over a 
bushel of it. But that was enough for seed, and would 
produce many bushels if properly planted, and carefully 
tended. 

This had been done shortly after their arrival at their 
present home. A fertile spot of ground had been se- 
lected, only a few hundred yards from the nwana-tree. 
It had been turned up with the spade, for want of a 
plough, and the seeds planted at proper distances. 

Many an hour had been given to the weeding and 
hoeing of it, and around every plant a little hill of soft 
mould had been raised, to nourish the roots, and pro- 
tect them from the heat of the sun. The plants were 
even watered now and then. 

363 


tTbe Susb-OBogd 


Partly on account of this attention, and partly from 
the richness of the virgin soil, a splendid growth was 
the result ; and the stalks stood full twelve feet high, 
with ears nearly a foot long. They had almost ripened; 
and the field-cornet intended in about a week or ten 
days to gather in the crop. 

Both he and all his people were anticipating pleas- 
ant feasts of maize-bread, and “ hominy,” with “ mash 
and milk ” and various other dishes, that with Totty’s 
skill could be manufactured out of the Indian corn. 

About this time an incident occurred that nearly 
deprived them, not only of their whole plot of maize- 
plants, but also of their valuable house-keeper, Totty. 
It was as follows : 

Totty was on the platform in the great nwana-tree, 
which commanded a view of the corn-patch, and also 
of the plain beyond, as far as the bottom of the cliffs. 
She was busied about “ house” affairs, when her at- 
tention was called off by some singular noises that 
came from that direction. She parted the branches 
and looked through. A singular scene was before her 
eyes — a spectacle of no common kind. 

A body of odd-looking animals, to the number of 
two hundred or more, w T as coming from the direction 
of the cliffs. They were creatures of ungainly forms 
— in make and size not unlike large, ill-shaped dogs 
— and of a greenish brown colour. Their faces and 
ears' only were black, and these were naked, while 
364 


Uott£ anfc tbc Cbacmas 


their bodies were covered with harsh coarse hair. 
They had long tails, which some of them carried high 
in the air, and flourished about in a very eccentric 
manner. 

Totty was by no means alarmed. She knew what 
sort of animals they were. She knew they were 
baboons. They were of the species known as the 
“pig-faced” baboon or “chacma” {Cynocephalus por- 
carius'), which is found in nearly every part of South 
Africa where there are high cliffs with caves and 
crevices — the favourite dwelling-places of the baboon. 

Of all the monkey tribe the baboons, or dog-headed 
monkeys (cynocephali ) , are the most disgusting in form 
and features. Who does not feel disgust when regard- 
ing the hideous mandrill — the drill — the hamadryas — 
or even the chacma ? And all these are baboons. 

The baboons are peculiar to Africa, and there are 
six well-known species of them ; the common baboon 
of North Africa, the “papion ” of the south and wes- 
tern coast, the ‘ ‘ hamadryas ” or “ tartarin ’ ’ of Abys- 
sinia, the “mandrill” and “drill” of Guinea, and 
the ‘ ‘ chacma ’ ’ of the Cape colony. 

The habits of these animals are as disgusting as 
their appearance. They may be tamed, and made 
“ pets ” of ; but dangerous pets they are, as they will, 
upon the slightest provocation, bite the hand that 
feeds them. 

Their great strength of body and jaw, and their 

365 


TTbe iJBusbsOBogs 


long canine teeth, give them a dangerous power, 
which they often make use of. No dog is a match 
for one, and the hyena and leopard often come off 
second-best in an encounter with a baboon. 

They are not carnivorous, however, and only tear 
their enemy to pieces without eating it. Their food 
consists of fruits and bulbous roots, which they well 
understand to dig out of the ground with the sharp 
nails of their hands. 

Although they will not attack man if left alone, 
they become dangerous assailants when hunted and 
brought to bay. 

Many odd stories are told of the chacma baboon 
among the settlers of Southern Africa, such as their 
robbing the traveller of his food, and then going off 
to some distance, and mocking him, while they devour 
it. The natives also say that they sometimes use a 
stick in walking, “crowing” for roots, and in self- 
defence. Also, when a young one has succeeded in 
finding a choice root, and is observed by an older and 
stronger one, that the latter takes it away ; but, should 
the young one have already swallowed it, then the 
bully picks him up, turns him head downward, and 
shakes him until he is forced to “ disgorge ! ” Many 
such tales are current in the country of the boors, and 
they are not all without foundation, for these animals 
most certainly possess the power of reflection in a high 
degree. 


366 


Uotts anb tbe Cbacmas 


Totty from her perch saw enough to convince her 
of this, had she been herself inclined to philosophise. 
But she was not. She was only a little curious about 
the manoeuvres of the animals, and she called Triiey 
and little Jan up into the tree, in order that they 
might share the spectacle with her. All the others 
were off hunting. 

Jan was delighted, and ran up the ladder at once. 
So did Triiey, and all three stood watching the odd 
movements of the four-handed creatures. 

They perceived that the troop was actually march- 
ing in order ; not in line , but with some understood 
arrangement. There were scouts upon the wings, and 
leaders in front. These were baboons of greater age 
and size than the others. There were calls and sig- 
nals, and the change of accent and tone would have 
convinced any one that a regular conversation was 
going on. The females and younger ones marched in 
the middle for better security. The mothers carried 
their infants upon their backs, or over their shoulders. 
Now a mother would stop to suckle her little offspring 
— dressing its hair at the same time — and then gallop 
forward to make up for the loss. Now one would be 
seen beating her child, that had in some way given 
offence. Now two young females would quarrel, from 
jealousy or some other cause, and then a terrible chat- 
tering would ensue, to be silenced by the loud, threat- 
ening bark of one of the chiefs ! 

367 


Uhc 3Bu6b=Bo^5 


Thus proceeded they across the plain, chattering, 
and screaming, and barking, as only monkeys can. 

What were they after ? 

That question was answered very soon. Triiey, 
and Jan, and Totty saw, to their dismay, that the 
baboons were not out upon an idle errand. They 
were after the maize-plants ! 

In a few minutes most of the troop had entered the 
corn-field, and were hidden from view by the tall stems 
and broad leaves of the plants. A few only could be 
seen, — large old fellows, that stationed themselves out- 
side as sentinels, and were keeping up a constant 
interchange of signals. The main body was already 
stripping the plants of their precious fruit. 

But a singular appearance presented itself beyond the 
cornfield, where a line of baboons stationed at equal 
distance from one another, extended away to the very 
bottom of the cliff. These had been left by a regular 
manoeuvre, — a deployment — as the troop traversed the 
plain in coming to the field. For what purpose ? 

That was soon apparent. In less than two minutes 
after the crowd disappeared under the shelter of the 
maize-plants, the long heads in their husks were seen 
showering out towards the line, as if flung by the hand 
of man ! Those placed at the near end of the line im- 
mediately took them up, pitched them to the next, 
and these to the next, and so on, until, in a very short 
while from the time a head was plucked from the stalk, 
368 


TTottp anb tbe Gbacntas 


it was delivered to the storehouse of the baboons far 
off among the cliffs ! 

Had this work gone on much longer the field-cornet 
would have had but a poor gathering in harvest-time. 
The baboons thought the corn ripe enough, and would 
soon have made a crop of it, but at this moment their 
operations were interrupted. 

Totty knew but little of the danger she underwent, 
when she ran forth with nothing but that long broom- 
handle to drive off a troop of chacmas. She only 
thought of the loss her kind master was sustaining : 
and down the ladder she hurried, and ran straight out 
to the cornfield. 

Several sentinels met her by its edge, grinned, chat- 
tered, screamed, barked, and showed their long canine 
teeth ; but they only received a blow over their ugly 
snouts from the broom-handle. Their cries summoned 
the others ; and in a few moments the poor Hottentot 
was standirig in the midst of an angry circle of chac- 
mas, that were only prevented from springing in upon 
her by the expert manner in which she continued to 
ply the broom-stick. 

But this slight weapon would not have served much 
longer, and Totty ’s fate— that of being torn to pieces — 
would soon have been sealed, had not four horsemen, 
or rather “ quagga-men,” at that moment galloped up 
to her rescue. 

These were the hunters returning from the chase ; 

24 369 


tlbe J6usb=:l8ops 


and a volley from their guns at once scattered the ugly 
chacmas, and sent them howling back to their caves. 

After that the field-cornet looked well to his maize, 
until it was ready for gathering ; when it was all 
brought home, and deposited in safety out of the reach 
of either birds, reptiles, quadrupeds or quadmmana. 


370 


CHAPTER XLVII. 


The wied hounds and the hartebeest. 

S INCE the taming of the quaggas the hunting had 
been attended with tolerable success. Not a 
week passed without adding a pair of tusks — some- 
times two or three pairs — to the collection which now 
began to assume the form of a little pyramid of ivory 
standing near the bottom of the nwana. 

Von Bloom, however, was not quite satisfied with 
his progress. He thought they might do far better if 
they only had a few dogs. 

Though the quaggas were of great service to them, 
and with these they were often able to overtake the ele- 
phant, yet they as often lost their great game, and it is 
more easy to do so than most persons imagine. 

But with the dogs to join in the hunt, the result 
would be quite different. It is true these animals can- 
not pull down an elephant, nor do him the slightest 
injury ; but they can follow him whithersoever he may 
go, and by their barking bring him to a stand. 

Another valuable service which the dogs perform, is 
in drawing the attention of the elephant away from the 
37i 


m 


M 


Zhc 


hunters. The huge quadruped when enraged is, as we 
have already seen, exceedingly dangerous. On such 
occasions he will charge upon the noisy dogs, mistak- 
ing them for his real assailants. This, of course, gives 
the hunter a good opportunity of delivering his fire, 
and avoiding the deadly encounter of the elephant. 

Now in several elephant-hunts which they had lately 
made, our hunters had run some very narrow risks. 
Their quaggas were neither so manageable nor so quick 
in their movements as horses would have been, and 
this rendered the hazard still greater. Some of them 
might one day fall a victim. So feared Von Bloom ; 
and he would gladly have given for a number of dogs 
an elephant’s tusk apiece — even though they were 
the most worthless of curs. Indeed, their quality is 
but of slight importance. Any dogs that can trace the 
elephant and pester him with their barking would do. 

Von Bloom even thought of taming some hyenas, 
and training them to the hunt. This idea was by no 
means quixotic. The hyena is often used for such a 
purpose, and performs even better than many kinds 
of dogs. 

One day Von Bloom was pondering over this sub- 
ject. He was seated on a little platform that had been 
constructed very high up — near the top of the nwana- 
tree — from which a view could be had of the whole 
country around. It was a favourite resort of the field- 
cornet— his smoking-room, in fact — where he went 


372 


TTbe Mtlb Ibounbs anb tbe Ibartebeest 


every evening to enjoy a quiet pull out of his great 
meerschaum. His face was turned upon the plain that 
stretched from the border of the bosch as far as the eye 
could reach. 

While quietly puffing away, his attention was at- 
tracted by some animals standing at a distance off upon 
the plain. The brilliant colour of their bodies had 
caught his eye. 

They were of a lively sienna colour over the back 
and sides, and white underneath, with a list of black 
upon the outside of the legs, and some black stripes 
upon the face, as regularly defined as if laid on by the 
brush of a painter. They had horns of very irregular 
shape, roughly knotted — each curved into something 
of the shape of a reaping-hook, and rising directly 
from the top of one of the straightest and longest 
heads ever carried by an animal. These animals were 
far from being gracefully formed. They had drooping 
hind-quarters like the giraffe, though in a much less 
degree, shoulders greatly elevated, and long, narrow 
heads. For the rest their forms were bony and angu- 
lar. Each stood five feet high, from the fore-hoof to 
the shoulder, and full nine feet in length. 

They were antelopes of course — that species known 
among Cape colonists as the ‘ ‘ hartebeest * ’ ( Acronotus 
caama). There were in all about fifty of them in the 
herd. 

When first observed by Von Bloom, they were 
373 


Ube Busb^o^s 


quietly browsing upon the plain. The next moment, 
however, they were seen to run to and fro, as if sud- 
denly alarmed by the approach of an enemy. 

And an enemy there certainly was ; for in a moment 
more the herd had taken to flight ; and Von Bloom 
now saw that they were followed by a pack of hounds ! 
I say a “ pack of hounds,” for the creatures in the dis- 
tance exactly resembled hounds more than anything 
in the world. Nay, more than resembled, for it actu- 
ally was a pack of hounds — of wild hounds ! 

Of course Von Bloom knew what they were. He 
knew they were the 44 wilde-honden,” very absurdly 
named by sapient naturalists “ Hyena venaticaf or 
4 4 hunting hyena, ’ ’ and by others, with equal absurd- 
ity, the “hunting dog.” I pronounce these names 
4 4 absurd, ’ ’ first because the animal in question bears 
no more resemblance to a hyena than it does to a 
hedgehog ; and, secondly, because 4 4 hunting dog ’ ’ is 
a very ridiculous appellation, since any dog may merit 
a similar title. 

Now I would ask, why could these naturalists not 
let the nomenclature of the boors alone ? If a better 
name than 4 4 wilde-honden ’ * (wild hounds) can be 
given to these animals, I should like to hear it. Why, 
it is the very perfection of a name, and exactly ex- 
presses the character of the animal to which they apply 
it — that character, which coming under their every- 
day observation, suggested the name. 


374 


Ube MUb Ibounbs anb tbe ibartebeest 


It is quite a libel to call this beautiful creature a 
hyena. He has neither the ugly form, the harsh 
pelage, the dull colour, nor the filthy habits of one. 
Call him a “ wolf,” or “wild dog,” if you please, but 
he is at the same time the handsomest wolf or wild 
dog in creation. But we shall name him, as the boors 
have done, a “wild hound.” That is his true title, 
let naturalists class him as they may. 

His size, shape, his smooth, clean coat, as well as 
his colour, approximate him more to the hound than 
to any other animal. In the last — which is a ground 
of ‘ ‘ tan ’ ’ blotched and mottled with large spots of 
black and grey — he bears a striking resemblance to 
the common hound ; and the superior size of his ears 
would seem to assimilate him still more to this ani- 
mal. The ears, however, as in all the wild species of 
Cants , are of course not hanging, but erect. 

His habits, however, crown the resemblance. In 
his natural state the wild hound never prowls alone ; 
but boldly runs down his game, following it in large, 
organised packs, just as hounds do ; and in his hunt- 
ing he exhibits as much skill as if he had Tom Moody 
riding at his heels, to guide with whip and horn. 

It was the field-cornet’s good fortune to witness an 
exhibition of this skill. 

The hounds had come unexpectedly upon the harte- 
beest herd ; and almost at the first dash, one of the 
antelopes became separated from the rest, and ran in 
375 


Ube Busb^ops 


an opposite direction. This was just what the cun- 
ning dogs wanted ; and the whole pack, instead of 
following the herd, turned after the single one, and 
ran “ tail on end.” 

Now this hartebeest, although an ill-shaped ante- 
lope, is one of the very swiftest of the tribe ; and the 
wild hound does not capture it without a severe chase. 
In fact, he could not capture it at all, if speed were 
the only point between the two animals. But it is not. 
The hartebeest has a weakness in its character, oppo- 
site to which the wild hound possesses a cunning. 

The former when chased, although it runs in a 
straight line, does not keep long in a direct course. 
Now and then it diverges to one side or the other, led 
perhaps by the form of the ground, or some other cir- 
cumstance. In this habit lies its weakness. The wild 
hound is well aware of it, and takes advantage of it 
by a manoeuvre, which certainly savours strongly of 
reflection on his part. 

Our field-cornet had a proof of this as he watched 
the chase. His elevated position gave him a view of 
the whole ground, and he could note every movement 
both of pursuer and pursued. 

On breaking off, the hartebeest ran in a right line, 
and the hounds followed straight after. They had 
not gone far, however, when Von Bloom perceived that 
one hound was forging ahead of the rest, and running 
much faster than any of them. He might have been 
376 


XTbe MUb Ibounbs anb tbe Ibartebeest 


a swifter dog than the others, but the hunter did not 
think it was that. He appeared rather to be running 
harder than they, as if sent forward to push the harte- 
beest, while the rest saved their wind. 

This proved to be really the case ; for the dog, by a 
desperate effort, having gained upon the antelope, 
caused the latter to turn slightly from its original 
course ; and the pack, perceiving this, changed their 
direction at the same time, and held along a diagonal 
line, as if to head the game. By this means they 
avoided the detour which both the antelope and their 
companion had made. 

The hartebeest was now running upon a new line ; 
and as before, one of the hounds was soon seen to head 
the pack, and press forward at the top of his speed. 
The one that first led, as soon as the antelope turned 
from its original course, fell back, rejoined the pack, 
and was now lagging among the hindmost ! His 
‘ ‘ turn ’ ’ of duty was over. 

Again the hartebeest verged from its course. Again 
the pack ran obliquely, and made a second “cut” 
upon him — again a fresh dog took the lead, and on 
swept the chase as before — the wild hounds uttering 
their yelping notes as they ran. 

Several times was this manoeuvre executed by the 
cunning dogs — until the desired result was accom- 
plished, and the antelope was completely “ blown.” 

Then, as if they felt that it was in their power, and 
377 


XT be 


that further strategy was not needed, the whole pack 
rushed forward simultaneously, and closed rapidly 
upon the game. 

The hartebeest made one last despairing effort to 
escape, but, finding that speed would no longer avail, 
the creature wheeled suddenly round, and placed itself 
in an attitude of defiance — the foam falling from its 
lips, while its red eyes sparkled like coals of fire. 

In another moment the dogs were around it. 

“What a splendid pack ! ” exclaimed Von Bloom. 
“ Oh ! that I had such an one ! ” 

“ Ha ! ” he continued, as a new thought struck him, 
“ and why not, just such an one ? — why not ? ” 

Now the train of reflections that passed through the 
mind of the field-cornet was as follows : — 

That the wild hounds might be tamed, and trained 
to hunting, — easiest of all, to the chase of the elephant. 
He knew that this could be done, for boor-hunters had 
often done it. True, the dogs must be taken young, 
but where were young ones to be obtained ? It is not 
so easy to capture the pups of the wild hound. Until 
they are able to run well, their mothers do not permit 
them to stray far from the caves in which they are lit- 
tered ; and these are usually crevices among rocks 
quite inaccessible to man. How could he obtain a set 
of them ? He had already formed such an intention. 
Where could be their breeding-place ? 

His reflections were interrupted at this point, by 
378 


Zhc TKHtit> Ibounbs anb tbe Ibartebeest 


very singular behaviour on the part of the wild hounds, 
and which gave him a new idea of their intelligence 
that quite electrified him. 

When the hartebeest stood to bay, and the hounds 
came up, Von Bloom very naturally expected to see 
the latter run in upon their game, and at once pull it 
to the ground. This he knew was their usual habit. 
What was his astonishment at seeing the whole pack 
standing off to one side, as if they intended to leave 
the antelope alone ! Some of them even lay down to 
rest themselves, while the others stood with open jaws 
and lolling tongues, but without showing any signs 
that they intended further to molest the panting 
quarry ! 

The field-cornet could observe the situation well, for 
the antelope was on his side — that is, towards the 
cliffs — while the dogs were farther out upon the plain . 
Another circumstance that astonished him was, that 
the dogs, after running up and around the hartebeest, 
had actually drawn off to their present position ! 

What could it mean ? Were they afraid of its ugly 
horns? Were they resting themselves before they 
should make their bloody onslaught ? 

The hunter kept his gaze intently fixed upon the 
interesting group. 

After a while the antelope, having recovered its wind 
a little, and seeing the pack so distant, made a fresh 
start. 


379 


Qbe JSusb^o^B 


This time it ran in a side direction, apparently with 
the intention of gaining a hill that lay in that way, and 
up the sides of which it no doubt calculated upon gain- 
ing some advantage. But the creature had hardly 
stretched itself, when the hounds struck out after it ; 
and in five hundred yards running, once more brought 
it to a stand. Again the pack took station at a dis- 
tance, and the hartebeest stood upon the plain alone ! 

Once more it essayed to escape, and started off with 
all the speed that was left in its legs — the hounds as 
before trooping after. 

This time the antelope headed in a new direction, 
making for a point in the cliffs ; and as the chase now 
passed very near to the nwana-tree, everybody had a 
fine view of it. 

The hartebeest seemed to be going faster than ever, 
or, at all events, the dogs did not now appear to gain 
upon it ; and the field-cornet, as well as all the young 
people, were in hopes the poor creature would escape 
from its tireless pursuers. 

They watched the chase until they could just see 
the bright body of the hartebeest afar off, appearing 
like a yellow spot upon the face of the rocks, but the 
dogs were no longer visible. Then the yellow spot 
suddenly disappeared like the going out of a candle, 
and they could see it no more. 

No doubt the antelope was pulled down ! 

A strange suspicion entered the mind of Von Bloom, 
380 


XTbe XllHUfc Ifoounbs anfc tbe Ibartebeest 


and, calling upon them to saddle the quaggas, he, 
with Hans, and Hendrik, rode off towards the place 
where the hartebeest had been last seen. 

They approached the ground with caution ; and 
under the shelter of some bushes were enabled to get 
within two hundred yards of the spot without being 
observed. A singular spectacle rewarded their pains. 

Within a dozen yards of the cliff lay the body of 
the hartebeest, where it had been “pulled down ” by 
the dogs. It was already half eaten, not by the 
hounds that had hunted it, but by their puppies of 
all ages, that to the number of more than threescore 
were now standing around the carcass, tugging away 
at its flesh and snarling at one another ! Some of the 
grown dogs that had taken part in the chase could be 
seen lying upon the ground, still panting after their 
hard run ; but most of them had disappeared, no 
doubt into the numerous small caves and crevices 
that opened along the bottom of the cliffs. 

There was no room left to doubt the singular fact 
— that the wild hounds had regularly driven the harte- 
beest up to their breeding-place to feed their young, 
and that they had abstained from killing it out upon 
the plain to save themselves the labour of dragging 
it from a distance ! 

Indeed these animals — unlike the Felidcz — have not 
the power of transporting a large mass to any con- 
siderable distance ; hence the wonderful instinct which 
381 


Qhc 35usM5oes 


led them to guide the antelope to the very spot where 
its flesh was wanted ! 

That they were in the constant practice of this 
singular habit was attested, by the numerous bones 
and horns of large antelopes of different kinds, that 
lay strewed around the place. 

Von Bloom had his eye upon the young puppies, 
and all three made a rush towards them. But it was 
to no purpose. Cunning as their fathers and mothers, 
the little fellows forsook their meal at first sight of 
the intruders, and darted off into their caves ! 

But they were not cunning enough to escape the 
snares, which were laid for them every day for a week 
after ; and, before the end of that time, more than a 
dozen of them were safely domiciled in a little kennel 
built especially for their use, under the shadow of the 
great nwana-tree. 

****** 

In less than six months from that time, several 
of them were in the field, and trained to the chase 
of the elephant, which duty they performed with all 
the courage and skill that could have been shown by 
hounds of the purest breed ! 


382 


CHAPTER XEVIII. 


CONCLUSION. 



OR several years Von Bloom led the life of an 


JL elephant-hunter. For several years the great 
nwana-tree was his home, and his only companions 
his children and domestics. But, perhaps, these were 
not the least happy years of his existence, since, dur- 
ing all the time both he and his family had enjoyed 
the most estimable of earthly blessings,— health. 

He had not allowed his children to grow up without 
instruction. He had not permitted them to lapse into 
the character of mere “ Bush-boys.” He had taught 
them many things from the book of nature, — many 
arts that can be acquired as well on the karoo as in 
the college. He had taught them to love God, and 
to love one another. He had planted in their minds 
the seeds of the virtuous principles, — honour and 
morality, — without which all education is worthless. 
He had imbued them with habits of industry and 
self-reliance, and had initiated them into many of the 
accomplishments of civilised life — so that upon their 
return to society they might be quite equal to its 


383 


Ube JSusb^Bo^s 


claims. Upon the whole, those years of the exile’s 
life, spent in his wilderness home, formed no blank 
in his existence. He might look back upon them 
with feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. 

Man, however, is formed for society. The human 
heart, properly organised, seeks communion with the 
human heart ; and the mind, especially when refined 
and polished by education, loves the intercourse of 
social life, and, when deprived of it, will always yearn 
to obtain it. 

So was it with the field-comet. He desired to re- 
turn once more within the pale of civilised society. 
He desired once more to revisit the scenes where he 
had so long dwelt in peaceful happiness ; he desired 
once more to establish himself among his friends and 
acquaintances of former days, in the picturesque dis- 
trict of the Graaf Reinet. Indeed, to have remained 
any longer in his wilderness home could have served 
no purpose. It is true he had grown very much at- 
tached to his wild hunter-life, but it was no longer 
likely to be profitable. The elephants had completely 
forsaken the neighbourhood of the camp, and not one 
was to be found within twenty miles of the spot. They 
had become well acquainted with the report of the long 
roer, and knew the dangerous character of that weapon ; 
they had learnt that of all their enemies man was the 
one to be especially dreaded and shunned ; and they 
had grown so shy of his presence, tkat the hunters 

384 


Conclusion 


frequently passed whole weeks without setting their 
eyes upon a single elephant. 

But this was no longer an object of solicitude with 
Von Bloom. Other considerations now occupied his 
mind, and he did not care much if he should never 
spoor another of these huge quadrupeds. To return 
to the Graaf Reinet, and settle there, was now the 
ultimatum of his wishes. 

The time had at length arrived when he would be 
able to carry out that design ; and nothing seemed any 
longer to stand in the way of its full and complete 
accomplishment. 

The proscription against him had been long since 
taken off. A general amnesty had been passed by the 
government, and he had been pardoned among the rest. 

It is true his property was not restored to him ; but 
that mattered little now. He had created a new prop- 
erty, as was testified by the vast pyramid of ivory that 
stood under the shadow of the great nwana-tree ! 

Nothing remained but to transport this shining pile 
to a market, and a splendid fortune would be the result. 

And Von Bloom’s ingenuity found the means for 
bringing it to market. 

About this time there was dug another huge pit-trap 
near the pass in the cliffs, in which many quaggas 
were trapped ; and then there were stirring scenes, 
while these wild creatures were being broken to har- 
ness, and trained to “trek ” in a wagon. 

25 385 


Uh e 36 usMSo£S 


They were trained however, after a good deal of 
trouble — the old wheels, still in prime condition, serv- 
ing as the ‘ ‘ break ; ’ ’ and then the body of the wagon 
was let down from the tree, and once more renewed 
its acquaintance with its old companions the wheels ; 
and the cap-tent spread its protecting shadow over all ; 
and the white and yellow crescents were stowed ; and 
the quaggas were “ inspanned ; ” andSwartboy, mount- 
ing the “ voor-kist,” once more cracked his long bam- 
boo whip ; and the w r heels, well oiled with elephants’ 
grease, again whirled gaily along ! 

How surprised were the good people of Graaf Reinet, 
when, one morning, a cap-tent wagon, drawn by twelve 
quaggas, and followed by four riders mounted upon 
animals of the same kind, pulled up in the public 
square of their little town ! How astonished they 
were on seeing that this wagon was ‘ ‘ chuck ’ ’ full of 
elephants’ teeth, all except a little corner occupied by 
a beautiful girl with cherry cheeks and fair flaxen 
hair ; and how joyed were they, in fine, on learning 
that the owner of both the ivory and the beautiful 
girl was no other than their old friend, and much- 
esteemed fellow-citizen, the field-cornet Von Bloom ! 

A warm welcome met the elephant-hunter in the 
square of Graaf Reinet, and, what was also of some 
importance, a ready market for his ivory. 

It chanced just at that time that ivory was selling 
at a very high rate. Some article — I do not remember 
386 


Conclusion 


what — the principle part of which required to be con- 
structed of pure ivory, had come into fashion and gen- 
eral use in European countries, and the consequence 
was an increased demand for this valuable commodity. 
It was a fortunate circumstance for the returned hunter, 
who was at once enabled to dispose of his stock, not 
only for ready money, but at such a fine price as to 
yield him nearly twice the amount he had calculated 
on receiving ! 

He had not brought it all with him, as there was 
more than would have loaded any one wagon. A 
second load had remained, hidden near the nwana-tree, 
and this required a journey to be made for it. 

It was made in due time, and the remainder arrived 
safely at Graaf Reinet, and was there delivered to the 
ivory-dealers, who had already purchased it. 

The result was a splendid fortune in ready money. 
The field-cornet was once more a rich man ! 

For the present we can follow his history no farther 
than to say, that the proceeds of his great hunt enabled 
him to buy back his old estate, and to stock it in 
splendid style, with the best breeds of horses, horned 
cattle, and sheep ; that he rose rapidly in wealth and 
worldly esteem ; that the government gave him its 
confidence ; and, having first restored him to his old 
office of field-cornet, soon afterwards promoted him to 
that of “ landdrost,” or chief magistrate of the district. 

Hans returned to his college studies : while the 
387 


Ube Busb^Bops 


dashing Hendrik was enabled to enter the profession 
for which he was most fit, and the very one that most 
fitted him, by obtaining a cornetcy in the “ Cape 
Mounted Rifles.” 

Little Jan was packed off to school to study grammar 
and geography ; while the beautiful Triiey remained 
at home to grace the mansion of her honoured father, 
and look after his household affairs. 

Totty still ruled the kitchen ; and, of course, Swart- 
boy was the important man about the house, and for 
many a long year after cracked his great whip, and 
flourished his jambok among the long-horned oxen of 
the wealthy landdrost. 

But enough for the present, — enough of adventure 
for one year. Let us hope, boy readers, that before 
you and I have circled once more around the sun, we 
shall make a fresh trip to the land of the boors, and 
again encounter the worthy Von Bloom, his Bush- 
man, and — 

“ Bush-Boys.” 


6 69 

THE END. 
























































































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